Additional Deceptive Merchandise

The FDA is alerting consumers about specific products marketed for various purposes, such as addressing skin issues and aiding sleep, which have been discovered to contain undisclosed ingredients—these could present a major health risk. The public notifications listed below highlight products revealed through FDA analysis to possess active pharmaceutical ingredients not declared on their labels, including certain substances typically found in prescription medications. The use of these products may lead to severe side effects and can interfere with other medications or dietary supplements a consumer may be taking. Buyers should be cautious when contemplating the purchase of such products.

According to our findings over the last ten years of testing, it has been evident that retailers and distributors, notably those in online marketplaces, have been unsuccessful in adequately preventing these potentially hazardous items from reaching consumers. The FDA is unable to test every product available that may contain harmful hidden components. The enforcement measures and consumer warnings regarding contaminated products only represent a fraction of the over-the-counter items tainted with these dangerous ingredients.

Report Adverse Events

The FDA urges both consumers and healthcare professionals to report any adverse events through the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program; this allows the FDA to take necessary measures to safeguard the public against unsafe products. The agency remains dedicated to protecting consumers from the dangers associated with purchasing medications online and strives to educate them on safe online buying practices.

What follows is just a small selection of the potentially perilous products being marketed both online and in physical stores. Even if a product does not appear on this list, consumers should still be vigilant before using such items.