Counterfeit versions of known brands

How counterfeits appear

As a brand becomes popular, copies appear: jars and boxes that imitate its design, sold under its name through unofficial channels. The contents may be another shilajit of unknown quality, an adulterated product, or something else entirely; see adulterated shilajit. Counterfeits exploit the trust a brand has built, which is why documentation that only the genuine brand can provide is so valuable.

Warning signs

Why the batch number is your best check

A counterfeiter can copy a design, but it is much harder to copy a batch system that matches the brand’s own records and laboratory reports. Before or after buying, you can ask the brand whether the batch number on your jar is genuine and which report covers it; see batch numbers and testing dates and how to ask for a COA.

Safer and riskier channels

• Brand’s own websiteThe lowest counterfeit risk.
• Authorised stockistsListed by the brand.
• Marketplaces with the brand as sellerCheck the seller name.
• Third-party marketplace sellersHigher risk; check carefully.
• Social media sellers and private messagesHighest risk.

See buying on Amazon, eBay and TikTok Shop.

Compare with the genuine product

Keep a photo of a genuine jar and box from the brand’s website, and compare labels, seals, fonts and batch formats. Look at the label requirements too: a UK-sold supplement should name the responsible business and give the recommended daily portion.^[1][2] Spelling mistakes, blurred printing or missing details are common in counterfeits; see label and packaging checks.

If you think you have a counterfeit

1. Stop using itKeep the jar and packaging.
2. Contact the genuine brandSend photos and the batch number.
3. Contact the seller or marketplaceRequest a refund.
4. Report itVia Citizens Advice to Trading Standards.^[3]

How a documented brand helps

Brands that publish batch reports and sell directly make counterfeits easier to spot. Nature Elixirs sells through its own UK checkout and publishes its AGROLAB report for batch SJ2509; our team physically received a jar and matched its batch to that report.^[4][5] Nature Elixirs is a brand evaluated by Best Shilajit UK. Read our evaluation to see the evidence and documentation we reviewed.

Diverted and expired stock

Not every unofficial product is a fake. Some is genuine stock sold outside authorised channels, sometimes old or stored poorly. That carries its own risks: the product may be near or past its date, or may have been kept in heat or damp. Check the date mark and batch number, and ask the brand whether that batch is current; see shelf life and expiry.

How brands can help you

Brands that publish batch reports, list official stockists and respond to batch-number queries make counterfeits much easier to spot. When choosing a brand, consider how easy it makes verification as part of its value; see the brand transparency index.

Social media sellers

Products offered through direct messages, unofficial social shops or “group buys” are the hardest to verify. If a deal comes through a private message, treat it with extra caution and ask for documentation before paying.

Putting it into practice

Bookmark the brand’s official website and stockist list. When buying, compare the price, packaging and batch format with the official product, and if anything looks different, send a photo and the batch number to the brand before using it. A quick check costs nothing and can save you from a counterfeit.

A note on returns

If you suspect a counterfeit, don’t throw it away; keep it for the seller, brand or Trading Standards.

The bottom line

Counterfeits copy what a brand looks like, not what it can document. Buy direct or from authorised stockists, compare packaging carefully, and confirm your batch number with the brand. If a deal looks too good, it probably is.

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