A warning signal amidst market chaos: Distinguishing truth from falsehood is difficult, and there are numerous traps.
Over time, the pangolin-meat-flavored jujube market has undergone dramatic changes, and the proliferation of counterfeit products has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to protect themselves. Today, the manufacturing techniques for fake jujubes are so sophisticated that they can easily fool the eye. Without basic knowledge to distinguish genuine from fake, consumers are very vulnerable to scams, risking both their money and their health.
Market scandals: Falsification and manipulation rampant, pricing in chaos
In the porcupine bezoar market, some unscrupulous vendors use vague and inconsistent grading systems, arbitrarily setting prices without any standardized criteria, thus creating price chaos. Generally, if the price of porcupine bezoar is significantly lower than the market reference price (approximately RM100–RM150 per serving), it is almost certain to be counterfeit. However, even more alarming is that some counterfeit products are sold at prices comparable to genuine ones, allowing dishonest traders to make exorbitant profits. Reports indicate that the price of one kilogram of counterfeit porcupine bezoar can reach as high as RM900,000 to RM5,800,000 (approximately RM337–RM2,175 per serving), almost identical to the price of genuine products.
Furthermore, some vendors mix lower-grade porcupine bezoar powder with higher-grade products and sell them at the higher-grade price. Normally, the profit margin for genuine porcupine bezoar is around 30%-40%, but these unscrupulous traders inflate their profits to 300%-400%, or even higher. This not only defrauds consumers but also disregards the potential health risks and side effects of using counterfeit ingredients, which is extremely unethical.
This situation also forces genuine product vendors to lower their prices to compete with counterfeit products. In the long run, this could lead to genuine suppliers incurring losses and exiting the market, ultimately causing genuine porcupine bezoar to face the threat of disappearing from the market altogether.
From "blood-red bezoars" to "university bezoars": The various disguises of fake porcupine bezoar.
According to the study “A Traditional Folk Medicines of Malaysia: Porcupine Bezoar” published by the University of Science Malaysia (USM), "blood bezoars" are the most commonly seen type of fake Porcupine Bezoars on the market. They have a rough appearance and poor quality. We classify these low-quality imitations as "primary school level" to make it easier for the public to recognize and understand.
In addition, some fake bezoars are more finely crafted and highly realistic; we refer to these as "secondary school level" fake Porcupine Bezoars. As for those counterfeit bezoars that even professionals find difficult to distinguish from the real ones with the naked eye, we define them as "university level", due to their extremely similar appearance and high potential to deceive.
It should be specially noted that "primary school level," "secondary school level," and "university level" are a grading system for fake Porcupine Bezoars, specially defined by our team through long-term research and practice, intended to help consumers better understand the degree of counterfeiting and associated risks.
Currently, merchants and traditional medicine stores capable of producing "university level" fake bezoars have been active in the market for many years. They sell large quantities through online and offline channels, misleading numerous consumers and even posing health risks. These unscrupulous sellers control the flow of information, leading the public to be “brainwashed” and more likely to trust the false information they provide, subtly creating the misconception that counterfeit products are authentic.
At the same time, conscientious merchants who are committed to quality and authenticity face enormous resistance and challenges. The market trend is increasingly skewed, and the true value of Porcupine Bezoar is being eroded.
Don't be fooled: A consumer guide to identifying fakes and purchasing advice
In fact, authentic Porcupine Bezoars were originally intended to benefit people. However, it is observed that the market now contains a wide variety of fake Porcupine Bezoars of uneven quality. It seems to follow the principle of "policies above, countermeasures below." As counterfeiting techniques advance, fake Porcupine Bezoars look increasingly realistic, causing significant disruption to the market.
Nevertheless, we continue to do our utmost to provide accurate knowledge about Porcupine Bezoars. Even if the audience is small, we firmly believe that every person who sees our information can avoid purchasing fake Porcupine Bezoars, reduce potential health harm, and possibly gain real benefits from authentic Porcupine Bezoars.
To help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions, we also provide reference retail prices for authentic Porcupine Bezoars. The price of genuine Porcupine Bezoars varies according to their type and grade. Currently, in the cash market, the approximate price per fen (0.375g) of Porcupine Bezoars is as follows:
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| Due to the limitations of farming costs, farm-raised porcupine bezoars usually remain in the porcupine's body for only a few months to a year. Therefore, most are merely grass bezoars or semi-grass bezoars. Even semi-powdered bezoars are relatively rare, and fully powdered bezoars are even more scarce. | ||||
| Fake porcupine bezoars have no grading system. The lowest market price is around RM 100, or even lower. Because most consumers lack the knowledge to distinguish them, some sellers who are skilled at media marketing and active on social platforms (such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, WhatsApp, etc.) can still inflate the price of fake porcupine bezoars to RM 400–RM 2,000, which can rival or even exceed the price of genuine natural porcupine bezoars. | ||||
Therefore, we strongly encourage consumers to proactively consult professional teams, understand the grading standards and purchasing guidelines for genuine porcupine bezoars, and verify that the products they buy come from reliable and trustworthy sources, so as to avoid falling into scams. Of course, if you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us or visit in person for consultation—we will be happy to provide professional assistance.
References:
Dr Victor, The Revered Book of Porcupine Bezoar
Guangming Daily, “Over 70% of Porcupine Bezoars Are Fake” – Exposing Profiteering by Unscrupulous Merchants
Lin Aixuan, Analyzing the Authenticity of Porcupine Bezoars: Detox Effects Drive Buying Frenzy – How to Identify Real Porcupine Bezoars, Oriental Daily
Written by Dr Victor Team
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