Majority of protein supplements sold in India are mislabeled and contaminated, reveals study

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Proteins are often referred to as the building blocks of life because they are essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in the body. From muscles and bones to skin and hair, proteins form the structural basis of nearly every cell and tissue. Hence, it's no surprise that the Indian protein-based product market size reached33,028.5 crores in 2023 (according to market research company IMARC Group).However, a new study revealed alarming discrepancies in the labelling and safety of popular protein supplements widely consumed in India. According to the study, 70% of the examined products are not what they claim to be, while 14% contain harmful toxins lurking within. The study also suggests that traces of pesticide residue were detected in 8% of the tested products.So, the gains from that tub of protein power may come at a cost far greater than imagined. The study revealed — “most Indian-made herbal protein-based supplements are poor quality and contain liver toxic botanicals”.The researchers shed light on the dire need for stricter regulation and oversight in the protein-based herbal and dietary supplement industry.Led by clinical researchers from Rajagiri Hospital in Kerala and a tech entrepreneur hailing from the United States, the findings of the first-of-its-kind analysis were published in the peer-reviewed journal Medicine. Under the study, 36 brands of protein powers were analysed.The protein powders analysed included blended, pure plant-based, or pure whey-based formulations. The blends were either different blends of proteins or those with herbal extracts. Of the 14 blended formulations, seven contained herbal extracts, and the rest included various types of protein sources, such as pea, soy, egg, milk (whole, whey, or casein), and peanuts. Four of the products were purely plant-based. 18 powders were purely whey-based and whey-blended.Out of 36, 20 were made in India, and multinational companies manufactured the rest.The study showed nine had less than 40% detected protein content. On the other hand, the rest had above 60%. 69.4% or 25 protein supplements were mislabeled in terms of protein content. The protein content per 100 g found in the analysis was less than what was advertised on the product.Two products from the same manufacturer had 62% and 50.4% lower protein content while a commonly prescribed protein was mislabelled protein content of approximately 30% deficit than advertised.In some protein brands, the researchers found more than the labelled protein content in the quantification analysis, which could suggest either good quality protein sources used in manufacturing. However, this could also suggest “protein or amino spiking” where supplement manufacturers intentionally add cheaper protein components to deceptively showcase higher protein content.Five of the products were found to be contaminated with toxins from certain fungi. In some samples, the aflatoxin content was above 10 μg/kg. In three samples, traces of pesticides were detected.