HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN thE ORIGINAL AND IMITATION FOOD SUPPLEMENT?
1. 5 Ways to Differentiate Genuine and Fake Supplements
1.1. 1. Price
1.2. 2. Packaging
1.3. 3. Bar code/QR code test
1.4. 4. Solubility
1.5. 5. Taste
Nutritional supplements are an effective way to meet your needs of nutrients that you cannot get from the diet, but the nutritional supplement market is full of fraud and deception in order to achieve profits in the fastest time.
This leads the trainee into a whirlpool of confusion, and this is normal because he chose the game of bodybuilding and fitness in order to improve his health and not ruin it. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to check if a supplement is genuine or a imitation.
5 ways to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit supplements
1. Price
When it comes to buying a nutritional supplement , the customer is naturally attracted to the cheapest supplement, but sometimes you may find a well-known brand supplement for half its real price, here you have to doubt and think a little, the product may be expired.
In the event that the distributor claims to offer a huge discount on the product, visit the official website of the brand and ask them if they offer such offers.
2. Packaging
Before opening the package, take a closer look at the quality of the packaging, as smugglers may use substandard packaging and labels to save on packaging costs.
The solution is simple in this case, just see the actual packaging in the customer reviews of the brand you want to buy from and compare it to the packaging of your own.
When there are spelling or grammatical errors in the package that you have purchased, you have the right to suspect and return it immediately, especially if the errors were in the brand name, because this type of error is often intentional to evade property rights.
3. Bar code/QR code test
The barcode and QR code must provide the correct brand official website link for product information. It is important to research a product before purchasing it, as testing a barcode/QR code is a safe way to determine its authenticity. It is also advised not to buy any opened package from someone in the gym.
4. Solubility
The smugglers don't care about that muscle, they only care about getting the money. These people use the cheapest materials to make powders that look like real protein supplements that are often insoluble.
Do a simple test, add a spoonful of protein powder to some water at normal temperature. Now, shake the shaker or stir the water with a spoon for 30 seconds. If you notice any lumps, or residue, your product is counterfeit.
5. Taste
After examining the packaging from the outside and checking all the parameters mentioned above, you proceed to the last test, which is tasting the powder.
When tampering with the ingredients of a protein powder, its taste will be affected. If you know someone who uses the same protein powder, swap one scoop with them.
Fake protein supplements are also known to have a pungent odor and leave a bad aftertaste in your mouth. It is also best to check if your product tastes the same all the time. If the taste changes after every meal, you have a fake supplement.
There are some cases where scammers use discarded intact containers to be repacked. In such cases, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a real and a fake supplement. It is always advisable to crush your containers after you have finished using them to prevent counterfeiting.