Is it Safe to Buy Supplements on Amazon?

Purchasing supplements on Amazon is quick and convenient, with the added benefit of same or next-day delivery. However, the downside of buying from Amazon is the wide variety of counterfeit products from dubious suppliers, which can lead to devastating outcomes. Scarcity marketing and influencer hype create conditions that drive people to Amazon, where counterfeit supplements thrive, often tainted with questionable ingredients and phony labels.

Why You Should Never Buy Supplements On Amazon

I’ve noticed this trend for some time, which is why I caution against buying supplements (including skincare and makeup) from Amazon. The Makeup Mayhem episode from Netflix’s Broken series details the dark side of this trend. Counterfeit makeup products thrive on Amazon and are often tainted with bacteria, lead, arsenic, and other toxic ingredients that come from cheap, filthy “labs” in China and other parts of Asia. In the Makeup Mayhem episode, New York City dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe shares an alarming trend of skin conditions she didn’t see before the advent of counterfeit cosmetics, which is why I’m following suit with what I see in my own clients with counterfeit supplements.

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Counterfeit, fake, and expired products pose a significant risk in third-party marketplaces like Amazon and eBay due to the potential for high profits. In some cases, suppliers have bought their supposedly own products from these sites for testing, only to discover they’re not authentic! As a rule of thumb, it is not safe to buy supplements on Amazon because of these potential issues.

According to former FDA special agent Gary Collins, “Little do they know that these “bargain” vitamins and capsules are worthless at best, and at worst may cost them and their children their health, and possibly their lives. The fact is, it costs money to make quality dietary supplements such as vitamins, protein powders, fish oil capsules, energy bars, herbal blends, or sports nutrition products. But if you have no morals and know how truly under-regulated the supplement industry is in America, you can make huge amounts of money selling dangerous counterfeit and expired supplement products. How? You undercut the price of legitimate supplement companies. Cheaper wins. And the consumer loses. Why should you believe me? For many years, not too long ago, I worked in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a Special Agent. I’ve been behind the curtain of the supplement industry – way behind – so what I say is not based on some far-fetched conspiracy theory. I was there and witnessed it firsthand.”

3 Ways Supplements Are Sold At Bargain Prices:

• They are counterfeit, fake, and likely dangerous
• They are expired products, repackaged as new and thus useless
• They are stolen products, released on the black market without any quality control

I often hear from my clients about dark grey magnesium powder, deceptive labels, and adverse side effects that exceed a typical detox response. Several years ago, I bought a face cream from Amazon that seemed suspicious. Upon contacting the manufacturer, I discovered it was two years old and labeled incorrectly. The Organic Consumers Association has reported that Amazon acknowledges selling counterfeit supplements.

While discounts on Amazon can be helpful for those on a budget, they aren’t worthwhile if they aren’t safe for your health, worsen your current condition, or hinder the healing process.

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Why Professional Grade Supplements Are Worth The Price

There are five major categories of supplements:

• Consumer-grade
• Generic
• Natural
• Professional-grade
• Opportunistic (aka multi-level marketing or MLM)

In general, each successive category is more expensive than the previous one. To a large extent, higher prices reflect better quality, but not always – there is plenty of expensive junk, too.

Professional-grade supplements (otherwise known as nutraceuticals) are sold by doctors, nutritionists, chiropractors, dietitians, physical therapists, and personal trainers. Professional-grade nutraceuticals are the category I sell to my clients and are generally the only supplements I recommend.

The primary reason is that an independent or internal lab tests the quality and purity of bulk raw materials using corresponding Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). For instance, Thorne Research, a company I regularly work with, once received a batch of fish oil. Their internal testing revealed toxic levels of mercury and other contaminants in the fish oil, leading them to return the entire order to the supplier.

Professional-grade nutraceuticals are generally free of the stabilizers, preservatives, excipients, glazes, sweeteners, artificial colorings, binders, deodorizers, and other substances consumer-grade supplements use to shape and hold them together such as croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, crospovidone, FD&C Red #40 Lake, polyethylene glycol, resin, corn starch, titanium dioxide, and FD&C Blue #2 Lake to name a few.

The formulations of consumer-grade supplements are based on outdated Recommended Daily Allowances and are made from the cheapest, least efficient components in an effort to maximize profit, and are optimized for extended shelf life. To mask oxidation, spoilage, odor, and discoloration these manufacturers use artificial colorings, preservatives, and glazes. Centrum and Nature’s Way are examples of consumer-grade supplements.

It’s apparent that professional-grade counterfeit supplements are being replaced with consumer-grade supplements, or even worse, unknown substances such as the dark grey magnesium powder I mentioned previously. When I transition clients to verified professional-grade nutraceuticals, they usually respond better and recover faster. This makes the process of aiding them simpler because I know precisely what I’m dealing with. These tested supplements are much safer than pills you find on Amazon.

 

How To Avoid Unsafe Counterfeit Supplements

Now that we’ve answered, “Is it safe to buy supplements on Amazon,” it’s time for practical tips. Watch out for anything marked out or cut out of the label, broken seals, and expired products. Pay attention to changes in appearance and smell from prior orders. Also, check for customer service or return information before ordering.

 

Watch out for anything marked out or cut out of the label, broken seals, and expired products. Pay attention to changes in appearance and smell from prior orders. Also, check for customer service or return information before ordering.

In summary, I don’t recommend buying supplements (as well as skincare and make-up) from Amazon. It’s just not worth the risk. It’s not safe. For anything else you buy on Amazon, be sure to check who the supplier is (that they are not a third-party seller or bogus company) and what else they sell. For example, it’s questionable to see supplements being sold with electronics, dog food, and clothing.

Additionally, most people don’t realize that many supplement storefronts on Amazon are not the actual manufacturer, with some literally doing business out of a garage, which is something I’ve encountered. If it’s a legitimate Amazon account the manufacturer is using as a selling platform, reach out to them for verification before making a purchase. The safer option is to buy directly from their website.

Even if they use Amazon, products are often expired because they have no control over how Amazon stores and distributes their products. As another example, several years ago, I purchased food-grade hydrogen peroxide from a manufacturer’s storefront on Amazon. Upon inspection after receiving the product, it was also over two years old, just like the face cream I mentioned previously.

If you’re taking supplements recommended by a health practitioner and buying them all from Amazon, yet seeing no results, it’s important to communicate this to them. This could be a major factor in your lack of progress. It’s unfortunate that we live in a world where bait and switch tactics are common, but investing extra effort and expense in your precious health is far more important than saving a few dollars.