So many of the products we buy on the internet every day are brand-name, vetted and safe.
But you might be surprised to learn that a vast swath of inventory -- especially products sold by third parties -- goes through loose vetting processes or none at all.
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Because online marketplaces like Amazon (AMZN) -), Walmart (WMT) -), and eBay (EBAY) -) are so large, vetting every single vendor that sells on their platforms is exceedingly difficult.
These companies have taken steps to prevent fraud and dishonesty on the platforms. But with more than 9.5 million sellers on Amazon alone, beating back shady dealers can be a bit like playing Whac-A-Mole.
In 2020, Amazon began a pilot program to try to verify its sellers by holding video calls, leveraging machine learning, and matching identification papers and documents to sellers, or at least to whom the sellers purport to be.
But again, this process is lengthy and labor-intensive, and with new sellers joining all the time, it's an uphill battle difficult to win.
Not to mention: Counterfeit items crop up all the time, which is why certain brands like Nike (NKE) -) simply don't bother.
Deadly items sold on Amazon and Walmart
Counterfeit items might be the least of some unlucky customers' worries, however.
A recent warning by the Food and Drug Administration indicates some potentially deadly products were available and sold on multiple online platforms. So the agency is telling folks to immediately discard any related items purchased by certain vendors.
The products in question? "[Certain] weight-loss products labeled as Nuez de la India, and potentially marketed as 'botanical food,' 'India Nuts for Weight Loss,' 'slimming seeds,' 'India seeds for weight loss,' or 'diet seeds,' appear to be highly toxic yellow oleander, a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America," the FDA says.
"The nuts or seeds are generally understood to be nuts from the flowering tree Aleurites moluccanus, or commonly known as candlenut, candleberry, Indian walnut, kemiri, and varnish tree," the agency continued.
Such nuts or seeds can contain yellow oleander, which can cause the following symptoms or complications:
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- cardiac changes
- dysrhythmia
In some instances, the ingredient can bring on adverse neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications.
The FDA says at least one person in Maryland was hospitalized after taking Nut Diet Max brand Nuez de la India. The yellow oleander plant is known to be toxic to both humans and animals and should not be consumed.
"The product NUEZ DE LA INDIA Seeds was distributed online through Amazon and eBay. The Seeds comes in a 2-ounce clear bag. The product NUEZ DE LA INDIA Capsules was distributed online through Walmart and eBay. The Capsules comes in an amber bottle with 30 capsules," the FDA wrote.
The agency added that more weight-loss products may be added to its warning soon.
Any customers who bought these products are urged to dispose of them or return them to the original vendor for a refund. Todorganic Inc., which sells the Nuez de la India Seeds, has since issued a recall.
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