How to check your whey protein is genuine

The short answer

Buy from a seller who shows you the bill and lets you scratch the authenticity code in front of you, then verify it on the brand's own website. Everything below is how to be sure.

Five checks before you pay

They take about a minute, and a refilled tub usually fails at least one of them.

• The seal and the import sticker. An imported tub must carry an FSSAI import sticker with the importer's name and a licence number. A missing or photocopied sticker is a red flag.
• The authenticity code. Scratch the code and enter it on the brand's official site — not a link someone sends you. A code that is already used, or does not verify, means walk away.
• The batch number and expiry. They must be printed, not stickered over, and the same batch should be on your bill.
• The seal under the lid. A factory seal is even and printed. Loose powder on the rim, or a seal that peels off cleanly, suggests a refill.
• Where you bought it. A proper bill, and a seller who will take the tub back if a check fails. A price far below everyone else is usually the tell.

Protein we have verified

A few of the tubs on our shelves right now.