Fungi Perfecti, the producer of the Host Defense Mushrooms brand of supplements, has discovered several unauthorized accounts on Amazon selling counterfeit products which imitate its own. During routine brand control activity, the company investigated unauthorized sellers after it noticed inconsistencies in both packaging and capsule contents. The company has been able to confirm that four of its products have been imitated, including: MyCommunity 120-ct; Stamets 7 120-ct; Lion’s Mane 120-ct; and Turkey Tail 120-ct.
 
This troubling discovery comes just after NOW discovered that 11 counterfeit products imitating its brand were being sold on Amazon earlier this month. At the time, NOW said that counterfeit vitamin supplements imitating another brand were being sold on the platform as well, though the name of that brand hasn’t been disclosed.
 
Some of the counterfeit products also tested positive for soy and gluten, both of which are known allergens. Authentic Host Defense Mushrooms don’t contain either of these allergens. Counterfeit products almost always arrived in a small black plastic bag which fit one carton of product. Counterfeit MyCommunity cartons contained a misspelling of the word “Multi” on the primary display panel, which read “Muiti.” The bottom of the bottles of most counterfeit products contained an abnormally large 200 CC imprint/marking which isn’t consistent with authentic product packaging.
 
Fungi Perfecti bought counterfeit products from 23 different seller storefronts on Amazon, including: CM Priced; Linda app; MERCHANTSY INC; React Now; Link Grove LLC; yallo micol; Zennic LLC Store; D&D Wreath; YU&You; Pro Zen Store; RAVE RESTAURANT INC; Pubbee LLC; Summit unity; Houston Warehouses; Jiffy Deal Store; PK Partnership LLC; Blaike; Lazy Young’s; Prestige Kitchenware; HyG Trading; Collazo Commodities; and WFTLD Store.
 
Consumers can determine which seller they purchased a product from by navigating to the “Orders” page under the “Your Account” menu and selecting “Order Details.” The seller’s name will be listed under the product description.
 
Fungi Perfecti is now working with Amazon to restrict all counterfeit sales imitating Host Defense products. It noted that consumers can buy directly from the manufacturer at fungi.com or at hostdefense.com. Authentic retailers include Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, The Vitamin Shoppe, and CVS Pharmacy among others. Authorized e-commerce platforms include iHerb, Vitacost, and Swanson Vitamins. Authentic Amazon sellers include NetRush, Highland Health Foods, Holly Hill Health Foods, iHerb LLC, Terra Mater, The Vitamin Shoppe, and VitaminLife.