FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Living Essentials, LLC, distributor of 5-hour ENERGY®, recently discovered counterfeit 5-hour ENERGY® products circulating in the marketplace. Living Essentials, LLC, acted swiftly to identify and halt the counterfeiting operation and filed suits in U.S. Federal District courts in both California and New York.

The company has identified and shut down the counterfeiters' factory. Living Essentials, LLC, also executed court orders that have permitted it to seize large quantities of fake product from numerous locations as well the machinery used by the counterfeiters to package the counterfeits.

No serious adverse events have been reported to date related to the identified counterfeit 5-hour ENERGY® products.

Consumers can identify whether 5-hour ENERGY® products they purchased are counterfeit by examining the lot number located on the bottom of the bottle's packaging and on the bottom of each bottle. Known counterfeit products are:

Regular Strength Berry

• lot number 112611A4
• lot number 105112W4
• lot number W20712K6

Extra Strength Berry

• lot number 115811P3
• lot number W08912J4
• lot number 119812P4

Regular Strength Orange

• lot number 115111A2
• lot number 105112R2
• lot number 120012T2

Please note that the counterfeiters used lot numbers that also appear on authentic 5-Hour ENERGY®, so both fake and some real bottles have these lot numbers.

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®.

"We are extremely upset that a group of alleged criminals preyed upon and profited from the loyal, hardworking customers who have come to rely on us to provide them with a high-quality product and the world's leading energy shot," said Scott Henderson, president of 5-hour ENERGY®.

• Consumers who identify that the 5-hour ENERGY® product they have purchased matches the information above can contact Living Essentials at 1-866-324-7949. 
• Retailers and distributors that have counterfeit products can call 1-877-324-7987.

Those who call will be asked to mail the product to:

Fake 5-hour ENERGY c/o Kroll Advisory Services, 600 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Everyone will be asked to include their name, address and telephone number and the name and address of the store from which you purchased the product when they send in the counterfeit product.

About 5-Hour Energy®

5-hour ENERGY® is a liquid energy shot that provides a feeling of energy and alertness that lasts for hours. It contains a blend of B-vitamins and amino acids, zero sugar, four calories, caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee. It is available at retail outlets in the United States and Canada as well as throughout the U.K., Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands.

SOURCE Living Essentials, LLC