News Taffy

In March, the largest known U. S. counterfeit ring was busted, shutting down a multimillion dollar business. Few Americans realize just how pervasive counterfeit products really are, or how they could affect their health. We’ve all heard of fake Rolex watches or designer handbags, but counterfeiters are making huge profits on the products we buy and use every day like shampoo, makeup, wine, soap, baby oil, condoms, medicines, Chapstick, lotions and much more. You still might not be concerned until you learn some of the dangerous ingredients counterfeiters put in these products. Remember, counterfeiters are out to make money and they don’t care about your safety. They don’t comply with any consumer protection laws so they use the cheapest possible ingredients that will pass for the real thing.

Lab tests of these counterfeit products reveal unhealthy amounts of contaminants and heavy metals like lead, copper and beryllium which are known to cause seizures, confusion, kidney damage and cancer, among other problems. These contaminants can be absorbed through the skin. Viagra is one of the most common counterfeited drugs and has been found containing road paint. One of the reasons for Viagra’s famous four-hour warning is because of the possible reactions to fake Viagra. A knock off designer handbag probably won’t cause any harm but you can see the dangers of putting contaminated baby lotion on your precious newborn.

The fakes are endless. Beware of car repairs that are impressively cheap - disreputable repairmen have used fake airbags which disintegrate upon impact rather than inflate to protect you. Extension cords catch fire because the wiring is too faulty to carry the electrical current. It may seem harmless to buy knock off designer earrings but counterfeit jewelry often contains dangerously high levels of lead.

You can take precautions to protect yourself from buying dangerous fake products. Number one, ask yourself if the price is too good to be true. Shop at established, reputable stores which usually have a legitimate supply source. When buying makeup or medicines for example, buy from a national chain or a department store, not from the trunk of someone’s car or a discount store where everything is cheaper than normal or there is a strange mix of goods.

Counterfeit products may be difficult to spot but look for misspelled words, uneven printing or colors on packaging. Compare the product to other similar products to see if there are similar instructions, safety information and product warnings. Be careful when purchasing products online; there are even fake websites imitating the real thing. You don’t want to give your credit card information to someone who is already breaking the law by producing and selling counterfeit items; the risk of identity theft is high.

Teach your children about the dangers of buying products at prices that seem too good to be true. Teens especially may be excited to find pricy, name brand makeup and jewelry at bargain basement prices and not think twice about it. When it comes to your health, a bargain may not be worth it in the long run.