One of the biggest problems Amazon has is counterfeit products, specifically supplements. Increased reports of fake vitamins, protein powders, and other health products being sold on the platform have surged in recent years.

Why is this happening? A major culprit is Amazon's commingled inventory system. This means products from different sellers, whether they be authentic or not, are pooled together in the same bins at Amazon warehouses.

This means that if you order a supplement for Amazon, you might think you're getting it from your chosen seller. But with co-mingled inventory, Amazon ships whichever unit is closest regardless of which seller provided it.

This is serious shit. Counterfeit supplements have been found to contain everything from harmless fillers like rice and flour to dangerous substances, sometimes including undeclared pharmaceuticals, allergens and heavy metals.

Brands like Now Foods and Fungi Perfecta have discovered multiple counterfeit versions of their supplements sold on Amazon, sometimes by dozens of different storefronts. Some fakes even tested positive for drugs like Viagra.

For us consumers, this means that you can't always trust the label or the seller rating you see on Amazon. Even products that say "sold by Amazon" can be affected if commingled inventory is used.

To fight this, Amazon has introduced product programs like Project Zero and product serialization to help brands fight counterfeits. Sellers can opt out of commingled inventory by using Amazon-specific barcodes, but many products are still at risk.

The best way to get around this? Buy direct from the seller. Until Amazon fully addresses the risk of commingled inventory counterfeit supplements will always remain a threat. Also, always check for third-party testing and be wary of deals that seem to be too good to be true.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's better that you hear this now instead of blindly ordering your next supplement off of Amazon. If you got value out of this, follow me @FitFounder for more.

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One more thing to add is that if this is happening to supplements, you can be damn sure that this is happening to other items that Amazon sells as well. Stay safe out there and make sure that you are buying from the actual seller's account or from the seller themselves.