Nutritionist names four protein checks
- Hindustan Times highlighted nutritionist Neetha Bhandari’s four quick checks for spotting genuine protein powder as counterfeit supplements keep circulating online and in stores. - Her checklist focuses on sealed packaging, accurate labels, normal mixing and texture, and buying only from trusted sellers instead of discount resellers. - The advice matters because fake or adulterated supplements can be mislabeled, diluted, or contaminated — turning a fitness purchase into a safety risk.
Protein powder is a boring product right up until it isn’t. Most people buy it for convenience — more protein, less cooking, faster recovery. But the gap between a real tub and a fake one can be huge, and that is why a simple four-step authenticity checklist from nutritionist Neetha Bhandari is getting attention right now. The point is not that home checks can prove purity in a lab-grade way. The point is that they can catch obvious red flags before you put the stuff in your body. ### Why is fake protein even a thing? Protein powder is expensive, brand-driven, and easy to repackage. That makes it a good target for counterfeiting. A fake tub can look close enough to the real thing to fool someone shopping quickly online or in a local store. The danger is not just wasted money — fake or adulterated supplements may contain fillers, lower protein than promised, or ingredients that were never listed on the label. ### What is the first check? Start with the packaging. Bhandari’s first point is basically this: look at the tub like you would look at a medicine box. The seal should be intact. The lid should close properly. Printing should look clean, not blurry or slightly off-color. If the label is peeling, the shrink wrap looks tampered with, or the branding feels oddly cheap, that is a warning sign. Counterfeit products often fail at the boring details. ### What should the label tell you? The label should do more than shout “high protein.” It should name the manufacturer, show ingredients clearly, list batch details, and make the nutrition panel make sense. If a product claims unusually high protein, hides the source, or leaves out basic manufacturing information, that is a problem. This is also where you watch for ingredient lists padded with sweeteners, fillers, or vague blends that tell you very little. ### Why does mixing matter? Because texture is hard to fake well. One of Bhandari’s practical checks is to actually mix the powder and pay attention. A genuine product should usually dissolve in a way that matches its type. Some foaming or minor graininess can happen, especially with certain blends, but heavy clumping, odd residue, strange color, or an off smell can signal trouble. It is not a lab test — think of it more like noticing spoiled milk before you drink it. ### Where you buy it matters most? Probably yes. This is the least glamorous check and maybe the most useful one. Buying from the brand’s own site, an authorized seller, or a reputable retailer cuts down the risk fast. Deep-discount marketplace listings, unclear third-party sellers, and opened products are where a lot of the risk creeps in. If the price looks weirdly low, that is not a win until you know why. ### Can these checks guarantee safety? No — and that is the catch. A fake product can still pass a casual look test, and a real product can sometimes mix imperfectly. These checks are for screening, not certification. If you use protein regularly, the stronger move is to stick to known brands, keep invoices, verify batch or authenticity codes when available, and stop using any product that tastes, smells, or behaves unusually. ### So what is the real takeaway? Bhandari’s list works because it is practical. You do not need a lab. You need five minutes, a skeptical eye, and the discipline not to chase the cheapest tub on the screen. Protein powder is supposed to simplify nutrition. If the product itself feels suspicious, the simplest rule is the best one — don’t use it.
