This year’s list of problematic and potentially dangerous products appears driven largely by consumer interest in wellness and beauty as well as the pursuit of new recreational highs.

LegitScript, the leader in merchant and product certification and monitoring in the advertising, e-commerce, and payment sectors, today announced its annual list of trending problematic products that can pose compliance and regulatory risks to payments companies and online platforms. The curated list draws from LegitScript’s expansive monitoring data across the commercial internet as well as the company’s daily tracking of new laws, enforcement actions, online and dark web chatter, media coverage, and more.

This year’s list of products appears to be heavily influenced by trends in health and wellness, particularly the increasing consumer shift toward self diagnosis and self treatment. Some products, such as skin-lightening creams containing mercury, have long existed but are facing new scrutiny after revelations of their persistent widespread availability online. Others, such as unauthorized and experimental peptides to treat a variety of conditions without medical oversight, have emerged from obscurity to become surprisingly mainstream.

“There are entire ecosystems online built around health and wellness, often driven by unqualified influencers or businesses seeking to peddle their unapproved products, regardless of the safety implications,” said Scott Roth, CEO of LegitScript. “Part of what we do at LegitScript is track the online landscape to better understand what trends our clients need to be on the lookout for. Our goal is to help them see around the corner to anticipate what risks are coming their way.”

To support that effort, LegitScript draws on its Risk Intelligence System, which analyzes expansive monitoring data to help identify emerging patterns in product risk, merchant behavior, and regulatory exposure. By surfacing early signals tied to enforcement activity, shifting consumer demand, and evolving merchant practices, the platform helps inform the assessment of which products and practices may pose growing compliance concerns. As risk signals continue to change, LegitScript combines advanced technology with human expertise to help clients anticipate emerging areas of risk.

A number of recreational high products also made the list, including everything from cheap “gas station” highs like 7-OH to other opioid-like substances called nitazines that pose extreme overdose danger and may be treated as schedule I controlled substance analogues. The guide also explores trending weapons parts and a surge in counterfeit supplements.

“In addition to federal scrutiny, many states are taking their own action against these products, making it harder than ever to stay abreast of the changing regulatory landscape,” Gerard Olson, Director of Research at LegitScript, said. “We constantly track new laws, warning letters, and enforcement actions to better understand how regulators are approaching these products. Discerning enforcement priorities helps our clients refine their policies and better manage their risk.”

LegitScript’s Top 10 Problematic Products for 2026 is now available to download, containing the full list with detailed information on each product.

Register for LegitScript’s upcoming webinar on problematic trends to hear from expert analysts on predictions about products they expect to start trending later in the year.

About LegitScript

LegitScript, the global leader in Enterprise Risk Management Solutions, is trusted by the world’s largest search engines, e-commerce marketplaces, payment service providers, and social media platforms. By combining advanced, AI-driven technology with deep domain expertise and curated market intelligence, LegitScript empowers businesses to stay ahead of emerging threats and seize new growth opportunities with precision and speed. Our global team of regulatory experts and analysts is skilled at understanding global regulatory changes and assessing risk across products, websites, merchants, and platforms, providing clients with unmatched accuracy, actionable insights, and exceptional support.

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LegitScript's 2026 list of problematic and potentially dangerous products appears driven largely by consumer interest in wellness and beauty as well as the pursuit of new recreational highs.