After the report of the Protein Project went viral on the internet, many influencers thought that this report reflected that about 70% of the Supplements in India were Mislabelled. This was a direct attack on the Indian Fitness Supplements industry. Let us first thoroughly understand what the report says and also check out what other major influencers have to say about this report.
Table of Contents
Analysis of the Protein Project Report from the Researchers’ Point of View:
36 popular protein supplements sold in India were taken into account as a part of a ground-breaking public health initiative – “The Protein Project”. In this independent investigation, which was carried out in partnership with Neogen Labs and The Liver Institute and funded by Paras Chopra, 36 distinct protein products from different national, international, and local companies were evaluated for safety, nutritional value, and authenticity.
Using strict testing procedures, the study identified synthetic anabolic steroids using GC-MSMS profiling, pesticide analysis using GC & LC MSMS, detection of fungal toxins (aflatoxins) through HPLC, heavy metal assessment via ICP-MS, and protein percentage analysis using the Kjeldahl method.
Key Findings of the Protein Project Report:
The Project’s Report revealed that there are significant discrepancies in the protein content of different dietary supplement brands. 9 out of 36 of these nutritional supplements contained less than 40% of the labeled protein. Some of the well-known brands had alarming levels of such mismatch. For instance, Big Muscles Protein Whey claimed to include 76.5% protein but only included 26.1%, while B-protein claimed to contain 40% protein but only included 10%.
Five products, including Amway Nutrilite and Elements, have aflatoxin contamination beyond allowable limits, suggesting a lack of safety. Pesticide residues were found in three vegan products, indicating potential risks associated with herbal ingredients.
Tweet by @TheLiverDoc (Dr. Abby Philips)
Recommendations and Cautions as Suggested by the Data From the Report:
Because of the major nutritional companies’ misleading labels and very low protein content, The Report’s data stated that consumers can avoid specific products, including Protinex, Ensure, and B-Protin. Many Herbal/Natural protein supplements were pinpointed for having greater contamination concerns than the protein supplements that are non-herbal.
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In the whey protein supplements category, One Science and Ultimate Nutrition were among the top-rated Protein Supplements. Origin was identified as the greatest vegan protein choice. On the other hand, major and trusted companies like Amway and Big Muscles received low ratings, which turns out to be a great shock and disappointment for consumers.
Results of the Protein Project Report:
The Report of this Project debunked many of the whey protein misconceptions. It not only confirmed that protein supplements are healthy for kidney and liver function. However, the report strongly warned against the consumption of Whey Protein Supplements with Herbal ingredients in it. This was due to the fact of its potential adverse effects.
Soy and pea-based plant proteins were considered safe, however, “The Protein Project” report stated that the combination of plant proteins with herbal ingredients that contain substances that might damage the liver, such as curcumin or green tea extract. Hence, The Report advised against it.
When “The Protein Project” researchers analyzed 36 different Protein supplements, they discovered that 12 of them had incorrectly represented the quantity of protein they contained. This error varied from minor mistakes to considerably more severe ones. Even worse, these brands whose Protein supplements were mislabeled had Publically claimed to contain more protein than they really did.
Some Protein Supplements had high quantities of heavy metals, such as:
- Arsenic was found in protein supplements such as ‘Vegan Protein’ (Big Muscles), ‘Ultra-Soy Protein’ (Forever Life), ‘Iso Veda Protein’ (Patanjali Ayurved), and ‘Protein Plus’ (Bakson’s Homoeopathy).
- Cadmium was found in many of the Protein supplements including ‘Ultra-Soy Protein’ (Forever Life) and ‘Vegan Protein’ (Big Muscles).
- Lead was discovered in several nutritional supplements, including ‘Protein Super Herbs Women’ (Himalayan Organics), ‘Whey Gold’ (Muscle Blaze), and ‘Nutrabox Whey’ (Nutrabox), among others.
- Copper was also found in many protein supplements such as Ultra-Soy Protein (Forever Life), Nutrabox Whey (Nutrabox), and Protein & Herbs (Ozivia).
Some of the Major Brands in this Industry had a repetitive mismatch in labeling as well as heavy metal contamination. For example, the supplements from Patanjali Ayurved and Big Muscles were frequently mislabeled and contaminated with heavy metals.
However, not all brands were in the exact same situation. While unfortunately, some brands had many discrepancies, there still were some other brands, such as Herbalife Nutrition and Optimum Nutrition, who mostly got their labeling correct. However, there were still heavy metal concerns found in them.
The news of these companies especially was a great relief as the majority of the consumers in India Trusted their supplements – Quista Pro Whey by Himalaya Wellness, Musclefood Whey Protein by Dr. Morepen, Nutrilite Plant Protein by Amway had more Protein content than their labels (proper labeling) and no amount of heavy metals at all.
Lastly, “The Protein Project” research is an important resource for customers looking for reliable, trustworthy, and efficient protein supplements. You Can Find the Detailed results here, including brand-specific information. This information is easily accessible for consumption, allowing the end consumers to make informed and educated decisions.
The researchers behind the Protein Project report emphasized the importance of the need for additional research and peer-reviewed publications. This will help in encouraging openness and safety in the Fitness supplement sector. Furthermore, It is stated that The Protein Project report will be accompanied by a detailed steroid analysis, which will provide thorough insights into product safety to the consumers.
What do the Famous Influencers Have to Say About The Report?
In this video, Arpit Mangal Bursts various myths around protein supplements and also points out the loopholes in the report.
Kabir Grover explains the entire report in a very easy-to-understand way. He furthermore points out the best and worst brands in the fitness supplements industry, based on the report.
Faye D’Souza speaks to Dr Abby Philips AKA The Liver Doc who led the Protein Project. In the video, they discuss – 36 popular protein powders used in India and found that 70% had inaccurate information about Protein content. 14% also contained harmful fungal aflatoxins and 8% showed traces of pesticide residue.
So, What are Your Thoughts on this? Comment Below and Let us know!!!
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Sources:
https://protein-project.vercel.app/
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp3AXPpaMAAiz3M.png
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1629670100595888128.html
https://twitter.com/theliverdr/status/1776426492911878335
