How To Buy Safe Supplements Online: A Guide To Avoiding Fake Brands

While many quality dietary supplements are available on the market, the category remains filled with products that fail to meet label claims, especially online. 

Sometimes, these products contain no measurable levels of the compound(s) listed on the product label. For this situation to ever occur is unacceptable and potentially dangerous. 

A Case Of Fake Products

One of our brand partners noticed extremely low prices on CoQ10 from various third-party resellers on online marketplaces. The products appeared legitimate, with aesthetically pleasing packaging and thousands of 5-star reviews.

But the pricing didn’t add up. Intrigued, they ordered samples of three brands competing for the top spot on the page. When they tested the products, the results were astonishing. Each product claimed 400 mg but contained only 116–127 mg, less than one-third of the labeled amount. When they expanded their testing to more CoQ10 products from the same 3rd party seller, the results were even more shocking, as none of the 11 tested brands met the label claim, and most contained less than 20 mg, despite claiming 400 mg. And two brands had zero detected. 

Unfortunately, these brands are often run by small, agile players seeking to capitalize quickly. They are aggressive about generating fake reviews. And they don’t worry about being shut down because they can instantly reappear under a new label.

This marketplace also carries national brands, but the prices are higher and with fewer product reviews. As a result, they are hard to find.

We urge consumers to choose quality products offered at great value instead of questionable products at impossibly low prices that provide no value. Quality control is essential when purchasing any product, but it is even more crucial with nutritional supplements, as they directly impact our health and well-being. 

How To Shop Online For Supplements 

• Shop at iHerb because of its quality control processes
• Choose national and well-known brands
• Buy iTested® products or products tested by 3rd party labs
• Make sure products are stored in climate-controlled warehouses
• Always check the expiration date of the products you order
• Look for verified customer reviews.

Shop At iHerb

iHerb acts as a gatekeeper to prevent the sale of bogus products by employing a quality control process to screen products from companies that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and implement quality control measures to ensure that what is stated on the label is accurately represented in the product. 

Without a quality control system, online marketplaces are susceptible to small and agile companies looking to make a quick profit by knowingly or unknowingly peddling products that fail to deliver on label claims. The consumer judges the products only on their beautiful packaging, cleverly worded, unsubstantiated claims, and the fake reviews the companies have paid for. They are not concerned about being shut down because they can easily get re-listed under a new name. 

Do Research On The Brand

Look for brands that sell on many online sites and in conventional retail stores. These brands have reputations to protect and take steps to maintain quality. They have internal R&D and quality control departments, and many use 3rd party labs to check the quality of raw materials. Except for iHerb’s house brands, all different brands offered at iHerb are also sold through other marketplaces or retail stores. 

Buy Third-Party Tested Or iTested Products

Dietary supplement manufacturers often utilize reputable certification organizations that provide quality control guarantees, such as NSF (National Science Foundation), USP (United States Pharmacopeia), UL (Underwriters Laboratories), and ISURA. 

There is also a trend for manufacturers to validate their raw materials and products through third-party laboratories. Some companies practice transparency by posting chemical testing of their products to assure consumers of quality. For example, iHerb has a testing program called iTested. Each iHerb house brand product with the iTested logo has been:

• Tested by a certified 3rd party independent laboratory for ingredients, purity, and label compliance
• Offers complete transparency by providing a verified report
• Allows quality assurance, authenticity, and product guarantee

Look For Warehouse Quality Standards

Some marketplaces store products where heat or cold can destroy product integrity. Ensure you shop from online stores with warehouses that are suitable for selling natural products. Look for Climate Controlled Warehousing and Adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). iHerb offers both.

Focus On Fresh

Try to determine the expiration date of the products you order. Many times, huge discounts on national brands could mean that expiration dates are approaching. iHerb shows the expiration of every product and the different lots of a product. Our inventory has a turnover rate that averages 8.1 times per year. 

Look For Genuine Customer Reviews

All iHerb reviews are posted by our customers who have ordered the product. 

Buy with confidence when ordering from iHerb. We are committed to providing the best quality, service, and pricing possible. 

References:

1. Crawford C, Avula B, Lindsey AT, et al. Analysis of Select Dietary Supplement Products Marketed to Support or Boost the Immune System. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(8):e2226040. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.26040
2. Cohen PA, Avula B, Wang Y, Katragunta K, Khan I. Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US. JAMA. 2023;329(16):1401–1402. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.2296
3. Pravst, I., & Žmitek, K. (2011). The coenzyme Q10 content of food supplements. Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit, 6, 457-463.
4. Sarma N, Giancaspro G, Venema J. Dietary supplements quality analysis tools from the United States Pharmacopeia. Drug Test Anal. 2016 Mar-Apr;8(3-4):418-23. doi: 10.1002/dta.1940. Epub 2016 Feb 9. PMID: 26857794; PMCID: PMC5072169.