Host Defense Mushrooms#
Overview#
Host Defense is the flagship supplement brand of Fungi Perfecti, LLC, a family-owned company founded by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets in 1980. Based near the Olympic Rainforest in Washington State, Host Defense is the #1 best-selling mushroom supplement brand in the United States.
Company Background#
- Founded: 1980 by Paul Stamets
- Headquarters: Olympia, Washington (PO Box 7634, Olympia, WA 98507-7634)
- Employees: ~100-126 full-time workers
- Ownership: Family-owned, founder-led
- Certifications: Certified B Corporation (June 2023), Certified Organic (WSDA), Climate Positive
Product Focus#
Host Defense specializes in mushroom mycelium-based supplements featuring organic medicinal mushrooms including:
- Lion’s Mane - Brain health, memory, and cognitive support
- Turkey Tail - Immune and digestive health
- Reishi - Stress resilience and overall wellness
- Chaga - Antioxidant support
- Cordyceps - Energy and endurance
- Multi-mushroom blends - MyCommunity (17 species), Stamets 7 (7 species)
Product Categories#
| Product Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Capsules | Traditional supplement format |
| Powders | Versatile mixing options |
| Extracts | Concentrated liquid formulas |
| Sprays | MycoShield immune support |
| Beverages | MycoBrew coffee/cocoa/matcha blends |
DSLD Database Presence#
| Brand Variant | Product Count |
|---|---|
| Host Defense Mushrooms | 261 |
| Host Defense MycoBotanicals | 27 |
| Host Defense Mushrooms MycoBotanicals | 10 |
| Host Defense Organic Mushrooms | 7 |
| Total | 305 |
- Date Range: 2015-01-23 to 2025-07-24
- Primary Product Types: Botanical (157), Non-Nutrient/Non-Botanical (121), Other Combinations (23)
Retail Availability#
Host Defense products are widely available through:
- Official Website: hostdefense.com
- Amazon: Official Host Defense store
- Walmart: Via Pattern Inc. (authorized reseller)
- Target: In-store and online
- iHerb: Brand code FPI
- Natural/Health Food Stores: Nationwide distribution
Key People#
- Paul Stamets - Founder, Owner, Chief Science Officer
- Author of 6 books including “Mycelium Running” and “Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms”
- Discovered and named numerous mushroom species
- Recipient of AAAS Invention Ambassador Award (2014-2015), NAMA National Mycologist Award (2014), MSA Gordon & Tina Wasson Award (2015)
Research & Development#
Fungi Perfecti maintains an in-house R&D team of 8 scientists including 4 PhDs with expertise in:
- Mycology
- Chemistry
- Environmental sciences
- Cellular and molecular biology
The team has published 39 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Brand Status Rationale#
Status: ACTIVE (High Confidence)
Evidence supporting active status:
- Official Website Active: hostdefense.com fully operational with current products
- Recent DSLD Entries: Products added as recently as July 2025
- Wide Retail Presence: Available at Amazon, Walmart, Target, iHerb, and specialty retailers
- Parent Company Active: Fungi Perfecti actively marketing Host Defense as flagship brand
- No Consolidation Evidence: No acquisitions, mergers, or brand consolidation found
- Founder-Led: Paul Stamets remains active as owner and Chief Science Officer
- Certifications Current: B Corp certification maintained (2023+)
Investigation Summary#
| Aspect | Finding |
|---|---|
| 1. Database Presence | 305 products in DSLD (2015-2025) |
| 2. UPC Identification | Prefix: 633422 |
| 3. Official Web Presence | Active: hostdefense.com + fungi.com |
| 4. Parent Company Listing | Fungi Perfecti lists Host Defense as primary brand |
| 5. Retail Availability | Amazon, Walmart, Target, iHerb, health food stores |
| 6. Consolidation Evidence | None - independently owned since 1980 |
| 7. Historical Research | Founded 1980 in Shelton/Olympia, WA by Paul Stamets |
Relationships
From this profile →
- → Parent Company: Fungi Perfecti, LLC (external) (1980)