August 21, 2025

Think You’re Getting a Deal Buying Supplements on Amazon?

I need to make sure you know about something critically important – especially if you’ve ever grabbed your supplements from Amazon or Walmart Marketplace because it was convenient and the price seemed “too good to pass up.” (I go into this topic in detail in The Gut Lab and with my private clients, but I think it’s just generally a good PSA-type message to share now and then!)

Unfortunately, we’re seeing a rise in counterfeit supplements sold through these third-party marketplaces. They often look like the real thing, but they aren’t. What’s actually inside? Sometimes it’s just cheap corn starch or sawdust or some other filler (“Filler?” 🤷🏻‍♀️ Could be anything…). Other times, it may not be so innocuous. Perhaps the product is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or animal feces. And that’s what makes this surge of fake products so dangerous.

A couple months ago in a practitioner group I’m part of, someone intentionally ordered a Cellcore product off Walmart Marketplace because it was suspiciously cheap. Sure enough, it arrived looking almost right — but package details were off, the product color in the capsules was grey instead of yellow, and indeed the product was a fake.

These scams aren’t limited to just one brand. Many well-known companies are seeing their labels faked and their reputations harmed.

Amazon has even issued a statement saying they’re not responsible for third-party sellers or counterfeit products sold through their platform. That means if you get a suspicious bottle, they won’t get involved with it – and your health is on the line.

So how do you know if that supplement is fake? My top 6 “real supplement” checkpoints:

The product is coming from a random marketplace seller instead of the brand’s own store or a reputable online supplement store or dispensary.
The label on the supplement bottle has odd grammar, misspellings, and other inconsistencies.
The product label does not contain an expiration date, lot number, or contact information for follow up.
The product is not GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified.
Seals on the product (e.g. plastic ring, inner paper cover) are broken or do not exist.
A different color, texture, or odor for a product you’re familiar with.

Reducing risk is also why I’ve taken a couple critical steps to ensure that I’m only recommending quality products to clients that will improve their health – and not harm it.

First, I’ve obtained my Certified Dietary Supplements Credential through my certification board so that I can quickly evaluate various aspects of supplement product safety, including how to tell if it was manufactured in safe conditions.

Second, I only recommend using supplement dispensaries that purchase directly from GMP-certified manufacturers and manage their own inventory in trusted, environmentally controlled warehouses.

These are the safest, most reliable ways to know what you’re actually putting in your body – and that product quality has been maintained.

So, where do you go to get trusted products? I always start with shopping local: health markets, health food stores, and small businesses – your individually owned local medical and health practices.

👉Click here to access my practitioner-grade discounted dispensary with vetted products.

Other retailers that properly handle their products include:

Occasionally I will purchase supplements off Amazon – but only if they come directly from the supplement company’s store itself. And if the price is too good to be true? I don’t just walk away – I run. 🏃🏻‍♀️