Who spiked the Protein?

PseudoNinja

Just read an article on Forbes that talks about the multi-million dollar lawsuits currently in play regarding the use of fillers in protein powders. Explain it to me like I'm five. What is Protein Spiking, and how do I avoid getting scammed?

Sidebar what protein supplements are you using?

yarwell

Sounds like selling powdered gypsum or something cheap and inert as part of a protein product.

dterpsy

The trainers I worked with recommended Bio-X/Biosteel products. I remember that they said there aren't any regulations around protein powders right now, but that one is tested or something to guarantee it's actually providing the amount of protein it claims to provide.

mwyvr

Sidebar: I like supplementing my diet with a moist wild sockeye salmon steak just off the grill.

Protein spiking: I've always assumed there'd be bad actors in this field so I'm not interested in making protein powders part of my nutritional intake. Real food tastes better anyway. You can see what's in real food; you don't need a lab and lawsuit to inform you.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexmorrell/2015/03/12/lawsuits-say-protein-powders-lack-protein-ripping-off-athletes/

shamcd

From the Forbes article:

"But third-party tests, attached to some of the lawsuits, show some companies also fill the tubs with far cheaper free form amino acids like glycine, taurine or leucine as well as other substances like creatine monohydrate, and then portray them as grams of protein on the products’ labels. Certain amino acids are considered the building blocks to protein but they are not protein by themselves, nor do they have the same benefits as complete proteins.

These filler substances can cost less than $1 per pound, allowing companies to undercut competition with lower prices and dupe price-sensitive customers in the process."

mwyvr

I'm reminded of the infamous milk-tainting scandal in China that resulted in the deaths of infants, resulted in kidney damage in others, and caused sickness in hundreds of thousands of other children in the country.

A large dairy producer, and many others, were adulterating dry milk supplies with the chemical melamine in order to fake nutritional content (protein).

Do you know where your protein powder gets its raw materials from?

jaga13

Protein powders and supplements...it's kind of all a gamble since there isn't really regulation.