Consumers are being warned after Fungi Perfecti, the creator of Host Defense Mushroom supplements, identified several counterfeit products being sold on leading online retail sites like Walmart, Amazon, and eBay.
While these limitations are visually similar to authentic Host Defense supplements, they have been found to include allergens like gluten and soy. Genuine products are free of these allergens; however, unsuspecting customers who accidentally purchase fake ones could be exposed to potential health risks as a result.
Identifying counterfeit Host Defense supplements
Counterfeit products include some of their most popular items: MyCommunity, Stamets 7, Lion’s Mane, and Turkey Tail. Yet, due to their inauthenticity, they likely don’t contain actual mushroom blends like genuine Host Defense supplements.
Consumers who suspect counterfeit products are advised to discontinue use and seek a refund through the form that they purchased it from. To confirm the product’s authenticity, Fungi Perfecti recommends examining the packaging closely for any telltale signs of counterfeiting. These fake products often arrive in small plastic bags and may contain a large “200 CC” imprint on the bottom of the bottle, which is inconsistent with the official packaging standards. Furthermore, consumers should be on the lookout for packaging errors, including misspellings like “Muiti” instead of “Multi” on the MyCommunity cartons.
Safe purchasing tips
To avoid purchasing a counterfeit product by mistake, Fungi Perfecti recommends only purchasing from authorized sellers or directly from their website. Authentic host defense products can be safely purchased directly from the host defense or Fungi Perfecti websites. Authorized retailers include Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, The Vitamin Shoppe, and approved Amazon sellers like iHearb LLC, Highland Health Foods, NetRush, and VitaminLife.
Ongoing counterfeits in the supplement industry
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as last year, a similar situation arose when Fungi Perfecti identified another surge of fake products being sold online. The company responded by launching a thorough investigation and removing these fraudulent listings.
However, this recurrence demonstrates a persistent problem within the supplement industry, as several reputable brands like NOW Foods and Garden of Life have experienced similar issues with fake versions of their products infiltrating the market. These fraudulent operations now not only put consumers’ health at risk but also jeopardize the credibility and reputation that legitimate brands in the supplement industry have built.
Fungi Perfecti’s response
Fungi Perfecti is actively working to remove these counterfeit listings and prevent further sales of fraudulent products.
“Consumer safety is our top priority. Our team will continue diligent efforts to find the source of the counterfeiting and stop fraudulent sales on the eBay.com and Walmart.com platforms,” said Paul Stamets, the company’s founder.
In light of these findings, Fungi Perfecti encourages consumers to remain vigilant and continue to verify the authenticity of their supplements to ensure they’re receiving genuine products with the intended health benefits without the risks associated with counterfeit goods.
If you have questions about authorized sellers or need help verifying the authenticity of your Host Defense products, you can contact Fungi Perfecti’s customer service team. They are available via email at [email protected] or by phone at (877) 504-6926. For a list of trusted retailers where you can buy genuine Host Defense products, visit their Where to Buy page.
