Popular Indian brands are sometimes copied, repackaged, or sold past their expiry date, especially through unofficial sellers online. These simple checks help you make sure what you buy is the real thing.
1. Buy from a seller who knows where stock comes from
A trustworthy seller buys from the manufacturer or an authorised distributor and can tell you so. Be cautious with marketplace listings that give no information about the seller or where the stock was sourced. At HerbalDealCare we only buy from manufacturers and authorised distributors, and keep the invoices. You can read more on How We Source.
2. Check the seal
Genuine products arrive sealed by the manufacturer: a foil or induction seal under the cap, a shrink band around the neck, or a sealed carton. A broken, missing or re-glued seal is a reason to stop and contact the seller.
3. Check the batch number and expiry date
Every genuine pack carries a batch number, a manufacturing date and an expiry date. They should be clearly printed, not handwritten or covered with a sticker. Make sure the product is in date and that the dates on the carton match the dates on the bottle inside.
4. Look for the licence number and maker’s address
Products made in India show a manufacturing licence number and the full name and address of the manufacturer. If either is missing, be careful.
5. Compare the packaging
Look up the product on the brand’s official website and compare. Warning signs include:
- Blurry printing, spelling mistakes or odd colours
- A different logo, font or layout from the official product
- A pack size or tablet count the brand doesn’t make
- Labels stuck over the original printing
Some brands now add QR codes or verification codes to their packs. If yours has one, use the brand’s own verification page, not a link from a third party.
6. Be wary of prices that are too low
Shipping Indian products abroad costs money, so prices overseas are naturally higher than the Indian MRP. A price far below what other reputable sellers charge can mean old, damaged or fake stock.
7. Check the product once it arrives
If tablets look different from usual, the smell or colour is unexpected, or a liquid looks separated or cloudy when it shouldn’t, don’t use it. Contact the seller with photos.
What we do at HerbalDealCare
- Buy only from manufacturers and authorised distributors
- Ship every item in its original sealed packaging
- Show batch and expiry information and ship with good shelf life
- Replace or refund anything that arrives damaged or incorrect (see Returns & Refunds)
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Speak with your doctor before using any herbal or traditional product, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medicines or buying for a child.