A survey conducted by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that nearly 15% of protein powders, a dietary supplement used by athletes and bodybuilders, sold in India were found to be unsafe or substandard.
The regulator’s survey found that out of 144,345 samples collected during 2021-22, 4,890 were unsafe for consumption, and 16,582 were substandard, said an official aware of the matter, requesting anonymity. In addition, more than 11,482 samples had labeling defects and misleading information, the person said.
In light of the results, FSSAI initiated 4,946 criminal cases and several other civil cases. Doctors have warned that consuming unsafe protein powders, commonly used by youngsters to build muscle, can damage the kidneys, liver and heart and cause other health problems. FSSAI has notified specific rules to regulate the production and sale of protein powders and other dietary supplements in India.
The food regulator regularly monitors food business operators, including protein powder manufacturers, by conducting campaigns across states.
Besides initiating criminal cases, the Authority has also initiated civil cases in 28,906 cases, resulting in conviction and fine for 19,437 offenders. 53.39 crores.
Health experts said that in recent decades, the demand for dietary supplements has increased across the world, including India. Many young people, especially athletes, use these products to build muscle. However, many of these so-called dietary supplements can be harmful to the body.
“We see young boys coming to us with kidney related problems who want a manly body. The age of boys is mostly between 20-30 years. When we asked about his lifestyle pattern, he told that he goes to the gym and consumes protein powder on the advice of his gym trainer. Although there is no direct correlation, lifestyle patterns indicate a common trend in protein supplement intake. We ask such patients to stop consuming these protein powders immediately,” said Dr. H. Johri, Chairman, Department of Kidney Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
According to researcher IMARC Group, the Indian dietary supplement market is expected to grow 84,790 crore by 2027 37,630 crores in 2021.
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