How to Read a Protein Supplement Label in India
For You by Recovery+ · Trust
How to read a protein label in India (before you pay for one)
Here's the uncomfortable market fact: a peer-reviewed analysis of protein supplements sold in India, the Citizens Protein Project, found around 70% mislabeled on protein content, some contaminated1. That's not a reason to fear protein. It's a reason to spend two minutes reading before you spend money. Five checks:
- Grams per serving, not per 100g. The front-of-pack number often describes 100g of powder while the scoop is 30g. Do the one division that matters: protein per serving you'll actually take.
- The phrase “proprietary blend”. It legally hides the ratio of what's inside, which usually means the expensive ingredient is the garnish. If the formula is good, there isn't much to hide.
- What's behind the protein number. Ask what the stated protein consists of, and whether the brand states its basis openly. Any honest label can answer; evasion is the tell.
- Third-party proof. Lab reports, batch testing, verifiable certifications, in a 70%-mislabeled market1, independent verification is the difference between a claim and a fact.
- The rest of the panel. Sugar per serving, allergen declarations, additives. A “protein” product carrying dessert-level sugar answers its own question.
| Red flag | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Big number, tiny “per 100g” beneath it | Protein stated per serving, arithmetic you can check |
| “Proprietary blend / matrix” | Contents declared openly, basis stated |
| No lab reports anywhere | Batch testing or certifications you can verify |
| Miracle words, burn, detox, boost | Claims that stay inside what a label can prove |
| Only sold via unverifiable resellers | A traceable brand that answers questions |
This checklist is also a standard we accept for ourselves: Recovery+ states its protein basis plainly on both cans, ELXR AM and ELXR PM, 20g total protein per can, whey isolate plus a declared amino matrix, printed on every FSSAI-compliant label, and a sealed, fixed-dose can removes the scoop-and-tub games entirely. Judge us by the same five checks: the ingredients page and the Protocol are written to survive them.
01
FAQ
Is expensive protein automatically genuine?
No, the Citizens Protein Project found problems across price tiers, including pharmacy-channel products. Price is a signal of positioning, not purity; verification beats price as a filter.
What exactly is a proprietary blend?
A legally permitted way to list ingredients without disclosing their ratios. It's not automatically fraud, but it removes your ability to check value, which is why it correlates so well with disappointment.
How do I verify a brand's claims?
Look for batch-level lab reports or recognized third-party certifications, and favour formats that are hard to tamper with, sealed, serialized units over open tubs. If a brand publishes nothing verifiable, that silence is data.
ELXR AM + ELXR PM · Batch 001 · 3,000 cans
Serialized, lab-tested, and limited to 3,000 cans first.
The ₹299 pre-book is fully adjusted against your first order. Every rupee comes back as credit.
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