Unveiling a Concerning Landscape: The Risk of Counterfeit Supplements Online

Navigating through the ocean of dietary supplements online reveals a disconcerting undertow of counterfeit products, even amidst the seemingly safe harbors of widely trusted platforms like Amazon.com.

Recently, for example, Fungi Perfecti, the entity behind the industry-leading brand Host Defense® Mushrooms, unearthed multiple unauthorized sellers distributing counterfeit products under their name. These not only exhibited irregularities in packaging, but more alarmingly, tested positive for known allergens like soy and gluten, starkly deviating from the authentic gluten-free and soy-free formulations of genuine Host Defense products.

 

Image of a computer and supplement bottles

 

This is just one example of the fraudulence in supplements being found in the online marketplace. Several reputable brands discovered counterfeit online sellers in 2023, and to make matters worse, these counterfeiters are making false claims that have risky repercussions for consumers.

Incidents like these are the reason that it’s more important than ever to be vigilant stewards of our own supplement choices, and as a retailer, we also see it as our responsibility to continue to uphold standards of the highest integrity.

Natural Grocers perpetually roots its values in unyielding quality and consumer safety, embodying a steadfast shield against the perplexities of online supplement shopping. Our shelves are, in fact, safe harbors of vitamins and supplements that are always third-party certified to guarantee Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and are verified for purity, identity, and potency. With us, you embrace not only the health-supportive benefits of quality supplements but also the mental ease conferred by transparency, trust, and an educated Crew passionately sharing their knowledge.

In light of these disconcerting revelations about counterfeit supplements online, remember: When you choose Natural Grocers, you are not merely selecting a product. You’re opting for authentic value, a place where quality is never compromised, where your health is revered, and where the wellness journey is a shared venture between you and a team that prioritizes you, our valued customer.

Natural Grocers Commitment to You: It’s All In The Details

Our commitment to quality means that our quality assurance team holds a magnifying glass to each step of formulation for every supplement we sell, scrutinizing every detail, from raw materials to purity testing methods, to ensure it meets our unrivaled quality standards. We also periodically conduct independent lab testing to ensure that the quality and potencies stated on labels are accurate. Unsurpassed quality means that the latest supplement craze may not pop up in our stores as soon as you hear of it—the review process takes time—but the products you will find on our shelves are the absolute best you can buy. From essential vitamins and minerals to botanicals and herbs to homeopathic remedies, and everything in between, the keys to your health are lining our shelves.

Your Health, and the Quality of the Supplements You Take, Are Our Priority

Image of supplement capsules under a magnifying glassWe believe that supplements are one of the keys to good health, helping to unlock vitality and resilience. Because of this, we only stock products we know work, without questionable fillers, artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or other problematic ingredients. And with more than 5,000 unique products on our shelves, we have the largest selection of the highest quality vitamins and supplements in a brick-and-mortar location. Even better? In our stores, you will find support from our Nutritional Health Coaches*, extensive educational literature on a broad range of health related topics created by experts on our Nutrition Education Team, and help from our knowledgeable Crew members, who receive ongoing training and education from experts in the field.

*Staffing and availability of Nutritional Health Coaches varies by location.