How to Spot Fake Supplements and Protein Powders Online

That is wild. I am in NJ and usually go to a physical store just to be safe. At least I can look at the tub before I pay.

Physical stores are not 100 percent safe either if they buy from gray-market wholesalers. But definitely better than a random eBay seller.

I always compare the label ingredients to the official website. Sometimes the fakes use an old label design or list ingredients in the wrong order.

Spelling mistakes on the label are my favourite. "Magnesiun" was on a bottle of multivitamins I saw recently. Absolute jokers.

What about the scoop colour? Some people say it should always be a certain colour for specific brands.

Brands change scoop colours all the time to stay ahead of fakers. Best bet is to email the brand with your lot number and a photo.

Good tip. I am going to start doing that for every new brand I try.

If you buy from a reputable UK site like Bulk or MyProt you do not really have to worry about this. It is mostly an issue on marketplaces.

Agreed Milligan. In Canada Popeyes is pretty solid. Just avoid the too-good-to-be-true clearances on Facebook Marketplace.

I once got a protein that tasted like pure sugar. Turns out it was mostly maltodextrin. My blood sugar spiked like crazy.

That is dangerous for diabetics especially. These fake supplement manufacturers are criminals plain and simple.

Is there a list of "safe" sellers we can maintain here? Might help the newer lads from getting scammed.

We cannot officially endorse specific shops due to liability but we do have a Member Recommended thread in the main subforum.

I just got some BCAAs that did not have the bitter taste they usually have. Probably just flavored water powder. Waste of 40 bucks.

Man this is why I mostly stick to whole foods now. Too much stress trying to figure out if my powder is actually powder.