What year is on the tray

In 2024, the FDA warned about counterfeit Botox associated with adverse events, including hospitalizations. Its notice described products apparently obtained from unlicensed sources. FDA counterfeit Botox alert. In guidance updated in April 2026, the CDC again advised checking a provider's license and training and asking whether botulinum toxin came from an authorized source. CDC patient guidance.

These warnings give you a useful task at a consultation: establish the identity and source of the product before agreeing to receive it. They do not tell you whether an individual practice is trustworthy. That takes specific questions about the care being proposed.

Botox is a brand, while botulinum toxin describes a broader category of medicines. Ask which product the clinician proposes, why it fits your concern, and how you can read its patient information. The CDC recommends asking the provider to draw botulinum toxin from its labeled vial while you watch. What the CDC recommends checking.

Filler is a different product category. The FDA advises that clinicians use properly labeled, sealed vials or prefilled syringes of approved filler and provide its patient labeling. FDA consumer guidance. You are asking for an understandable explanation of the treatment, not taking over the clinician's preparation process.

Ask the clinician to show you the expiration date and explain the storage requirements for that exact product. For drugs, the FDA says the expiration date reflects the period when the product is known to retain its strength, quality and purity under the labeled storage conditions. FDA explanation of expiration dates.

A date alone cannot answer whether a product has been handled correctly. Ask how the practice follows the manufacturer's instructions, including any requirements after preparation. Different products have different instructions; there is no useful universal rule you can apply to every vial on a tray. If a label is unclear, have the clinician explain it before proceeding.

The FDA's 2024 notice showed features of specific counterfeit products, including incorrect wording and dose information. It also noted similarities with genuine packaging. Details in the FDA alert. Those examples describe a known incident. Treating them as a complete authentication checklist would go beyond the notice.

Ask the practice how it purchases from authorized suppliers and records the product used in your care. Request the product name and lot number for your records. You should not have to decide authenticity from the appearance of a carton. If the source cannot be explained clearly, postponing an elective appointment gives you time to resolve the concern.

Before leaving, collect the written aftercare instructions and the contact for questions or unexpected symptoms. Keep the treatment date, clinician's name and product details together so you can share them if another clinician needs to help.

After botulinum toxin injections, difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking, or other symptoms of botulism need emergency medical help. CDC advice after injections. Seek care promptly rather than waiting for a routine follow-up. A product check belongs at the start of the appointment; knowing how to get help belongs at the end. Both are ordinary parts of being an informed patient.