Overview: What every consumer and health brand needs to know

by René van Hoorn

When I started Lus Health nearly seven years ago, my goal was simple: contribute to a better future for people and the planet. Above all, I wanted to be honest and transparent about what we offer and how we make it. Even then, I knew not everyone in the industry shared that mindset.

As a supplement & ingredient supplier, we see things go wrong far too often, and in the last few years, the problem seems to be growing. Over the past few years we’ve identified two types of supplement fraud in the food supplement industry that we feel everyone should be aware of.

Why it matters

Consumers: You want to trust that what you put in your body is safe, effective, and matches the label. Imagine paying a premium for a product that:

• Doesn’t work
• Contains less of the active ingredient than claimed
• Or worse—contains something completely different

Brands: Launching a mislabelled or illegal product can destroy your reputation, lose customers, and even get you in legal trouble.

The types of fraud we see

Over the years, we’ve carefully built an ingredient portfolio with in-depth knowledge of supply chains. The fraud we’ve encountered is tied to our type of products and ingredients—but it likely represents just the tip of the iceberg.

The two main types of fraud we’ll focus on in this series:

1. False label claims to cut costs
2. Using cheaper origins while selling at a premium

Why food supplement fraud happens

Sure, money drives these decisions—but it’s rarely just greed. Often it’s rationalized as:

• “I want to offer a more affordable product”
• “The supplier is charging too much”
• “I just didn’t know”

As humans, we also tend to believe what benefits us. It reminds me of the 90s show The X-Files, where Mulder wants to believe in aliens. Similarly, buyers convince themselves all products can be organic, low-cost, and always available—because admitting supply chains are complex is too hard.

Fraud has been rising recently because the markets Lus Health serves are expanding. New players—both buyers and suppliers—enter the field, each wanting a slice of the pie. Some are willing to cut corners, bend rules, or break the law.

How to avoid fraudulent supplements

The solution isn’t simple. You can’t just “trust the supply chain.” The best protection is vigilance:

• Analyze your products
• Test soft gels and oils
• Measure active ingredients and contaminants
• Review lab reports and Certificates of Analysis (CoAs)
• Audit suppliers

For brands, this means building your own quality assurance system. It’s not easy—but it’s worth it.

Lus Health can help

We work with health brands to ensure quality, transparency, and sustainability. That means:

• Sustainable, plant-based ingredients
• Full supply chain traceability
• Rigorous quality standards

If you want to be confident your products meet the ethical and quality standards your customers expect, reach out to us or learn more about Lus Health here

Contact: info@lushealth.com

Would you like to report Fraud in the Food Supplement Industry? contact your National food safety legislator

✅ Next: Part 1 – Algal Omega-3: False Label Claims Used to Cut Costs (available per Oct 22th)