Fake Apple Cider Vinegar? ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Best & Worst Brands

White Plains, NY, March 19, 2026 — Apple cider vinegar is widely promoted for blood sugar control, weight management, and general health due to its acetic acid content, but new tests by ConsumerLab reveal that not all products are what they claim, and some products may offer little benefit.

ConsumerLab evaluated 10 popular apple cider vinegar products, including bottled liquids and a supplement. The tests showed most bottled products were authentic and met quality standards, but one product failed testing for authenticity, and higher price did not indicate better quality.

Key Findings:

• One product was not real apple cider vinegar: Testing showed that one popular bottled apple cider vinegar did not match the chemical profile of true apple cider vinegar and appeared to be an acetic acid product with added apple extract. It was the only product Not Approved.
• Most bottled products passed testing, but varied in strength: Most bottled liquids claimed 5% acidity, which we found to be 4.7% to 4.9%, providing from about 714 mg to 882 mg of acetic acid per tablespoon.
• Heavy metals were low across products: None of the tested products exceeded the State of California's Prop 65 limits for lead and showed little to no contamination with arsenic, cadmium, or mercury.
• Cost did not predict quality: Bottled products ranged from 6 cents to 19 cents per tablespoon, and higher price did not indicate better quality.

ConsumerLab’s Top Picks

One bottled apple cider vinegar (with "mother") was chosen as our Top Pick, providing real, high-quality, apple cider vinegar with appropriate acetic acid content with good flavor, at good value, and without concerning heavy metal contamination from lead, arsenic, cadmium, or mercury. It was also organic and included the "mother."

Access the Full Report:

ConsumerLab’s full Apple Cider Vinegar Review is now available online to ConsumerLab.com members – currently over 100,000 individual subscribers and thousands more with access through libraries, schools, and medical centers.

The Apple Cider Vinegar Review includes test results and comparisons for seven red yeast rice supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab: 365 [Whole Foods Market] Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar With The "Mother," Fairchild's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Heinz All Natural Apple Cider Vinegar, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, North Coast Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Simple Truth Organic Apple Cider Vinegar With Mother, Trader Joe's Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, White House Organic Apple Cider Vinegar With "Mother." One additional product passed the same testing and was Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC SuperFoods Apple Cider Vinegar.

As explained in the Review, clinical studies show that apple cider vinegar (as a liquid) may reduce or slow the increase in blood sugar after eating (although it may not help people with diabetes) and may modestly help with weight loss. However, there is no good clinical research supporting the use of pills containing apple cider vinegar in powder form, which generally provide a much smaller amount of acetic acid per serving. Additionally, pills in which the acetic acid is too highly concentrated can be dangerous if they become lodged in the throat. The Review also explains the dosage, the best way to take and store apple cider vinegar, and safety and cautions when taking apple cider vinegar.

A video explaining ConsumerLab’s findings and offering expert tips for selecting and using apple cider vinegar is available for free.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. It has tested and reviewed over 7,000 products and has published Product Reviews covering nearly every popular category of dietary supplements and health foods.

Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

Best Apple Cider Vinegar in Tests