Fake 5-Hour Energy Shots Seized

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.Living Essentials LLC filed suits against a company distributed fake versions of its  5-hour ENERGY® shots. The company identified and shut down the counterfeiters' factory after filing suits in U.S. Federal District courts in both California and New York.

Living Essentials also executed court orders that permitted it to seize large quantities of fake product from numerous locations as well the machinery used by the counterfeiters to package the counterfeits. "Living Essentials LLC, is working with appropriate authorities, including law enforcement, to investigate and aggressively proceed against those involved in producing, distributing and selling counterfeit 5-Hour ENERGY," the company said in a press release.

As reported by Fortune, court documents revealed more than 1.8 million bottles of counterfeit 5-Hour ENERGY products were seized during raids authorized in late October. Investigators found product in a majority of the states and at wholesale distributors in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

5-hour ENERGY's reputation was already tainted this month with reports that the liquid supplement has been link to 13 deaths and more than 30 serious or life-threatening injuries.

Living Essentials noted the counterfeit 5-hour ENERGY® products have not caused any reported serious adverse events, but cautioned that they could be dangerous.

The counterfeiters used lot numbers that also appear on authentic 5-Hour ENERGY, so both fake and some real bottles have duplicate lot numbers. Known counterfeit products are:

Regular Strength Berry

Extra Strength Berry

Regular Strength Orange