Woman finds expired weight-loss pills sold as fresh on Ozon marketplace

A woman in Nizhny Novgorod recently discovered she had purchased expired weight-loss medication from Ozon marketplace. The drug, Reduxin, was four months past its use-by date, despite the packaging stating a 2028 expiration. This is not the first time she has encountered such an issue on the platform.

The incident came to light when the buyer checked the product's code after delivery. Though the packaging claimed the capsules would remain valid until 2028, the actual expiration date had passed in early 2024. She had previously returned another expired item from Ozon after a similar verification.

The expired Reduxin was sold for just 689 rubles ($7.50) for 30 capsules. At Maxavit pharmacies, the same quantity retails for over 4,500 rubles ($50). No other reports of outdated or falsely declared medications in Russia's Honest Sign system have surfaced this year. Following the discovery, the woman urged other marketplace customers to verify product details using the Honest Sign app. She particularly recommended this step for perishable goods and medicines before collecting orders.

The case highlights the risks of purchasing medications from online marketplaces without thorough checks. While no wider pattern of expired drugs has been reported in 2024, the incident serves as a reminder for buyers to confirm product authenticity. Ozon has not yet commented on the matter.