How to choose original supplements in Georgia

Published: 14 July 2026 · Updated: 20 August 2026

A counterfeit supplement rarely looks counterfeit. It usually looks like the original — which is exactly why a few simple checks are worth turning into a habit. Below are seven steps that take five minutes.

1. The label must state amounts, not only names

An original product states the amount of every active ingredient on the label — in milligrams or micrograms, per serving. If the label says only "a complex of plant extracts" with not a single figure, that is the first warning sign.

The serving size (how many capsules make a daily dose) and the number of servings per pack should also be there. Without them you cannot work out how long a pack lasts.

2. Batch number and expiry are printed, not stuck on

On an original, the batch number and expiry date are usually laser-printed or stamped directly onto the pack or the cap. A stuck-on sticker with another date showing underneath is an unconditional reason to refuse.

Remember: an expired supplement is not merely "weaker" — fatty components (omega-3, oils) oxidise over time.

3. Tamper seal and airtightness

A bottle should carry a foil membrane or another tamper seal. If the membrane is broken, torn or missing entirely, do not use the product.

4. Who the seller is

When ordering on a marketplace, check who the specific seller is: the platform itself, an authorised distributor or a third party. With a third party, the chain of manufacture, storage and transport is opaque.

That does not mean everything on marketplaces is counterfeit — it means the chain of responsibility is longer.

5. A price that is too good

If a product that normally costs 70 GEL is sold in one particular place for 18, there is usually one explanation: either the expiry is close, or it is not what the label says.

Genuine promotions do exist — but they usually sit within 30–50% and are announced by the manufacturer or the official source.

6. Print quality of the packaging

A blurry typeface, uneven spacing, spelling mistakes or two packs of the same product in different shades — these are the details counterfeiters most often economise on.

7. Where the chain started

The shortest chain is the official source or an authorised representative. The more intermediaries there are, the more points exist at which a product can be stored incorrectly or swapped.

8. Checks at the moment of delivery

Cash on delivery gives one practical advantage: you can inspect the order before handing over money. With the courier, check whether the name and volume printed on the pack match what you agreed with the operator, whether the tamper seal is in place, and what expiry date the box carries.

If any of these does not match, you are entitled to refuse the order — that is a normal procedure, not a conflict. Refusing at the door is far easier than going through a return process afterwards.

9. What to do once you already suspect something

The first step is to stop taking it. The second is to keep everything: the box, the bottle, the remaining contents, the receipt or the message confirming the order. These are the items that make a complaint substantiated; without them the conversation usually comes down to one person’s word against another’s.

Then contact the seller and describe specifically what did not match. If the product caused a reaction affecting your health, seeing a doctor takes priority — and take the packaging with you, because the composition matters to the doctor.

10. Compare the composition against two sources

The most frequently skipped check is the simplest one: open the official description of the product and compare it side by side with what you are holding. The list of components, the amount of each, the number of capsules per pack and the manufacturer’s name should match word for word.

A mismatch does not always mean counterfeiting — a manufacturer may update a formula or change the packaging design. But it is the moment to put a question to the seller before you start taking it, not after half the pack is gone.