Injectable vitamins being sold illegally on Etsy, Which? finds
Which? has found products labelled as injectable vitamins being illegally offered for sale on Etsy - with some orders even including free erectile dysfunction pills.
In a snapshot investigation, the consumer champion found seven listings on Etsy by four sellers showing plain AI-generated boxes with product names like ‘Vitamin C 10 x 5mL’ or ‘Multivitamin infusion 10 x 10 ml’.
Which? found some listings for injectable supplements with none of the legally required nutrition information, like how much of the active ingredient the product contained, any warnings about dosage, or indeed any list of ingredients.
The description also advised customers to search for a separate website name, where Which? found more listings for vials of injectable vitamins. None of this was flagged as problematic by Etsy.
The seller was even able to take out a paid ad on their vitamin D product which brought it right to the top of the search results.
Which? bought four items from two sellers on Etsy - LuminaSkin and MummyWorldTreasures - to see what arrived and whether Etsy stopped the orders. All the products arrived without issue or intervention from Etsy.
The products labelled as vials of vitamin B12 from LuminaSkin came in an already opened box, with instructions exclusively in Spanish. The bold and all-caps warning ‘MEDICAMENTO SUJETO A PRESCRIPCIÓN MÉDICA’ (which translates to prescription drug) would not be understandable for many UK buyers.
The order from MummyWorldTreasures said they were injectables of vitamin D3, multivitamins, and vitamin C. All three items were missing information leaflets with important safety warnings, and the vitamin C vials came without any box at all.
The box of vitamin D3 and multivitamin vials displayed the warning “not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner”. The vitamin C vials stated that the dosage should be set by a physician.
The multivitamin box had leaked, which means the contents of at least one of the vials had been exposed to air and contaminants, which increases the risk of infection for anyone who were to inject them.
Which? did not test the items to see if they are the substances they claim to be but these listings for unlicensed medications are hugely concerning. The packaging said the products came from India and Spain, which means they are not authorised for sale in the UK.
Either these items are real and illegally imported and sold, or, like some other items Which? has previously found on online marketplaces, they are counterfeit and therefore illegal to sell.
Along with the injectable solutions, MummyWorldTreasures included three loose and unnamed pills with Which?’s order. They provided a note with the order that described the other products they offer including ‘100mg “Blue” Tablet – Famous diamond-shaped’ and ‘80mg Yellow Tablet – Slim, elongated oval.’
When Which? asked the seller what these pills were, they replied, “Free sample of Men’s enhancement supplement to help with blood flow and stamina. Sorry I didn’t realise it was addressed to a female. Apologies.”
The consumer champion sent the pills to a lab to test what they contained. Which? found that the blue pill contained sildenafil, the active ingredient in many popular erectile dysfunction medications. The yellow pill meanwhile contained tadalafil, another active ingredient in erectile dysfunction medications.
Both of these pills are illegal to sell without a prescription or the supervision of a pharmacist so it is extremely concerning that they were added to an order without any information about what they were or how to take them safely.
Both shops are now closed and Which? reported its findings to Etsy and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to investigate further.
However, several listings advertising injectable vitamin B12 have continued to appear on Etsy. This shows just how easily these listings are slipping through the net online. Even when they are caught and removed, another listing pops up in its place just days later.
It is extremely worrying that sellers are not being stopped from selling products that are clearly illegal.
Another recent Which investigation exposed how easily unsafe supplements can be advertised and bought on online marketplaces. The government and regulators must ensure there is stronger enforcement in place so that any companies breaking the rules - whether manufacturers, retailers or marketplaces - know they will be held to account.
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Policy, said:
“The dangerous lack of oversight on Etsy is putting people’s health at risk and allowing injectable vitamins to be sold illegally.
“Buying these items is risky as they could be counterfeit or even if they are genuine, shouldn’t be used without medical oversight.
“The government and regulators need to crack down on these illegal listings and ensure that any sellers who break the law are properly held to account so they cannot continue to put people’s health at risk.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
About the research
Which? bought four products from two Etsy sellers in October 2025, and had the unlabelled pills tested in a lab to determine whether they were erectile dysfunction medication in November to December 2025.
Another recent Which? investigation on supplements being sold with risky doses on online marketplaces - https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/supplements-in-risky-doses-found-across-online-marketplaces-and-on-the-high-street-akzDa7f6Z4y5
Rights of reply
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute said: “We are aware that some online businesses are supplying self-injection kits for vitamins. Although not prescription products, these kits are designed for medically diagnosed nutritional deficiencies and should not to be used in the same way that usual food supplement capsules are used.
“It is our understanding that these products should be administered by trained professionals or under instruction from them. We would advise that anyone thinking of using such products, should seek medical consultation / testing, before purchasing.
“The danger of buying from non-reputable suppliers online, could result in the consumption of non-approved ingredients and/or unsafe dosages; which could be more damaging, than beneficial to the consumer.”
A spokesperson for Etsy said: “Medical drugs, medical devices, and any other items that claim to treat, prevent, mitigate, cure or diagnose a disease or medical condition are prohibited on Etsy. The listings flagged by Which? are no longer available on our marketplace, and our team is actively monitoring for any injectable supplements that violate this policy.”
A spokesperson for the MHRA said: “The MHRA is committed to protecting public health by preventing the illegal sale and supply of medicines and medical devices to UK consumers, including through online marketplaces.
“The illegal sale and supply of unauthorised medicines can put consumers at significant risk of harm, including contamination, adverse reactions, and unknown interactions. While the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit cannot comment on specific operational steps or ongoing investigations, we take intelligence of this nature extremely seriously.
“The MHRA continues to work closely with major online marketplaces to prevent illegal medicines being offered for sale, and we welcome any action taken to remove unlawful online listings.
“We also maintain public-facing guidance advising individuals on how to source medicines safely and legally, including through the Yellow Card scheme and FakeMeds campaigns. These initiatives aim to reduce demand for illegal medicines by highlighting the dangers of purchasing from unverified online sources and guiding the public toward legitimate suppliers.”
Mummy World Treasures did not respond to Which?’s request for comment.
Which? was not able to contact Lumina Skin for comment as the seller has closed its store.
About Which?
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