The Resurgence of Amino Spiking in Budget Brands
With whey prices fluctuating, manufacturers are returning to old tricks. How to spot glycine and taurine padding on modern labels.
THE TRUTH
ABOUT PROTEIN.
The supplement industry is built on margin, not muscle. We strip back the marketing to analyse what's actually in the tub.
Latest Figure
32%
Of market-leading whey concentrates tested in 2023 failed to meet their label claim for total protein content.
WE DON'T DO "TOP 10" LISTS.
Most supplement review sites exist solely to aggregate affiliate links. They read the label, rewrite the manufacturer's copy, and give it 5 stars.
We assess protein powders on five strict criteria: amino acid profile completeness (avoiding 'spiking'), heavy metal screening results, cost per gram of complete protein, digstibility markers, and verifiable third-party testing.
If a product uses proprietary blends to hide its whey ratio, or pads its protein count with cheap glycine, we call it out. No exceptions.
THE 5 PILLARS
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01
True Protein Yield Total protein minus free-form amino acids used for spiking.
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02
Purity & Sourcing Heavy metal analysis and origin of raw whey/plant materials.
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03
Digestibility (DIAAS) Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score assessment.
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04
Value Density Cost calculated per gram of usable protein, not per serving.
LATEST ANALYSES
View all →Heavy Metals in Plant Protein: Risk vs Reality
Analysing the latest Clean Label Project data alongside FDA thresholds. Are pea and rice blends inherently risky?
Why We Abandoned PDCAAS for DIAAS
The outdated protein quality metric that overrates soy and underrates dairy, and why the FAO recommends moving on.
Isolate vs Concentrate Data
| Metric | Whey Concentrate (WPC-80) | Whey Isolate (WPI-90) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein by weight | ~78-80% | ~90-92% | +12% absolute |
| Lactose content | 4-8% | <1% | Negligible in WPI |
| Average Cost/kg | £25.00 | £40.00 | +60% premium |
| Cost per 25g protein | £0.78 | £1.11 | +42% per dose |
STOP GUESSING YOUR MACROS.
Generic calculators use outdated formulas. Use our evidence-based toolkit to calculate lean mass requirements based on current literature.
Launch Calculators"If a brand won't show you their amino acid profile, they are hiding something. Period."— Dr. Marcus Thorne, Lead Analyst
Brands we hold accountable
MYPROTEIN
OPTIMUM NUTRITION
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