With the recent news of fake supplements, it’s only prudent to discuss the authenticity of protein powders before actually diving into your fitness journey.
Thanks to India’s growing gray market, counterfeit bodybuilding supplements are more popular than ever in the country and largely courtesy of India’s extensive gray market.
spiking scam
Most customers are unaware that some businesses engage in a little trick called “amino/protein spiking,” in which they add cheap ingredients to their powders to pass inspections and falsely claim that their products compare to them. Contains more protein.
Protein powders can be “amino/protein spiked” using inexpensive amino acids such as glycine and taurine, as well as non-proteinogenic (protein-building) amino acids such as creatine and beta-alanine. You can easily remove fake protein powder with these tricks:
1) logo test
Without a current license, the supplement cannot be imported or distributed. The license number should be prominently displayed on the product label. The licensed dietary supplement will have a label or tag that will provide important data, such as date of manufacture, date of import, and other details.
2) Seal test
If the item doesn’t have a seal, it’s probably a fake protein powder or supplement. Verify the inner seal of the lid. Loosely sealed counterfeit goods will be of inferior quality. If the product is genuine with a consistent attachment, the seal must have suitable edges. The brand name is usually applied to the seals.
3) Mixture test
Mix a scoop of protein powder in some room temperature water. Shake it in a shaker for about 30 seconds. If the product has any lumps, residue or flakes, it may be false. Companies now pay close attention to flavor and lump formation. Any counterfeit protein powder will not have the same nutritional value as its authentic counterparts.
4) Taste test
Read product reviews before making a decision. Learn more about the expected taste. If the taste of the ingredients you read doesn’t match, you may have fake protein powder on your shelves. This version may not be the real deal if you’ve used the same brand before, but with a completely different flavor.
5) Barcode / QR Code Test
Both the bar code and the QR code should provide a URL link sufficient for the description of the product. To get accurate product information, you can use the QR code scanner feature on your smartphone. Do your research before buying a supplement or protein powder. Avoid buying from unlicensed sellers and those who are not properly certified but pretend to be experts. Bar code and QR code testing are excellent tools to determine the authenticity of a product.
6) MRP sticker test
Keep in mind that even counterfeit nutritional powders and supplements will have fake MRP tags on the container. You can determine if the stuff is genuine if you notice anything strange about this sticker.
Before buying counterfeit protein powders and supplements, follow these steps to identify them. Go ahead and choose wisely!
(Disclaimer: The article is based on general information and is not a substitute for medical expert advice. Zee News does not confirm this.)