Real vs. Fake Berkey
Have you heard or seen that "Berkey is a scam" when doing your own research? Perhaps you've googled "Berkey Lawsuit" and found some unsettling YouTube videos. Let us address your concerns.
The lawsuit is not against us, BerkeyFilters.com. The lawsuit in question names the Berkey manufacturer, New Millennium Concepts (NMCL). NMCL has requested dismissal of the lawsuit for several reasons; including questions about the origin and condition of the filters as well as test methodology. NMCL is denying all allegations in this case. We stand by our products and ask that you contact the manufacturer (berkeywater.com) for further questions. See their full lawsuit response.
Be wary of counterfeit, fake Berkeys! Always buy from an authorized dealer, such as BerkeyFilters.com. Other ways to tell if your Berkey is authentic or not, is to inspect the Black Berkey Filters. Look at the plastic portion of the filter near the stems. The plastic should be matte black. There should also be a Berkey logo and a twelve-month date stamp. If the filters are shiny, do not have a date stamp in a twelve-month format, or are missing the Berkey logo, they are fake products.
There have been many reports of Berkey copycats on Amazon. These dupes are never the high quality that real Berkey products are and often have terrible customer service with no warranties or return policy. Buyer beware! Where's the best place to buy a Berkey?
Tested by accredited third-party labs that have reported that the elements exceed EPA Drinking Water Standards and ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol and address 200+ typical contaminants found in tap water and other freshwater sources. All test results are published and readily available.
New logo on Berkey systems! A cleaner, more simplified Berkey logo is making its way on the production line Summer 2022. New systems will don a rectangle neatly encapsulating Berkey®. The manufacturer of Berkey water filters is transitioning away from Berkey® by NMCL, New Millennium Concepts, Ltd, and NMCL to focus more on the core brand, Berkey®.
"We will have a mixed inventory for a while as we work through the systems with the old logo versus the new one. You may have already received some new systems featuring the updated logo." --Berkey manufacturing company.
A different, unfamiliar logo is usually a cause for suspicion and should raise questions about the authenticity of a product. In this case, the new logo is just a re-branding. One way to ensure you're getting the real deal verify that where you're buying your Berkey from is an Authorized Berkey Dealer. Be sure to look for the Authorized Berkey® Dealer Badge when shopping.
The old design included text New Millennium Concepts as well as their logo. The updated design sheds the extra embossing for a sleeker appearance.
Another common question is 'can other filters be used in a Berkey system?' No, we do not recommend it, even if other filters fit into the chamber and holes. We especially do not recommend using different brands of filters at the same time. For example, do not use two official Black Berkey Filters with two ceramic British Berkefeld filters. Stick with the best, stick with Berkey Filters.