The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is taking action against protein supplement powders and shakes that are not medically certified or display misleading claims. A recent study found that nearly 70% of India’s 36 most popular protein powders had incorrect information on their labels, with some brands offering only half of what they claim.
This crackdown follows an FSSAI study showing that many protein powders and supplements sold in stores, online, and in gyms had false and misleading claims. According to the report, this could lead to a ban on many products that do not meet the standards.
As fitness awareness grows, the popularity of protein supplements has surged, leading to a wide range of expensive products on e-commerce platforms. These protein supplements often sell for around ₹2,000-6,800 for 2-3 kg jars.
A study published in the journal “Medicine” revealed the extent of the problem. It analysed 36 popular protein supplements that were sold in India and found that nearly 70% had incorrect protein information on them, with some brands providing only half of what they claim. Additionally, around 14% of the supplements contained harmful fungal aflatoxins, and 8% had traces of pesticide residue.
“Most Indian-made herbal protein-based supplements are poor quality and contain liver toxic botanicals,” noted the authors, who are clinical researchers at Rajagiri Hospital in Kerala and a US-based technology entrepreneur. “We demonstrate that the protein-based herbal and dietary supplement industry requires stringent scrutiny, regulation, and basic safety studies before being marketed,” they added.
The FSSAI’s restrictions aims to ensure that protein supplements sold in India are safe and accurately labelled, protecting people from misleading and potentially harmful products.
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