INTRODUCING THE CITIZEN’S PROTEIN PROJECT – TWO
Citizen’s Protein Project — Part Two: The Next Check-Up
The same independent team that shook up India’s supplement market is back. This time MESH has bought 34 protein powders to find out if products sold as “pharmaceutical” protein products really give better value and safety than the flashier sports-nutrition brands. The study will again post every raw lab sheet online for anyone to audit.
Why Compare Pharma Protein with Gym Powders?
Hospital-style “medical nutrition” powders and shakes are trusted because they sit behind a chemist’s counter, yet labels show they often deliver only 10 g protein in a 30 g scoop and rely on cheap fillers such as maltodextrin and added sugar. By contrast, most sports whey isolates give 24-25 g protein for the same scoop size.
The Study Game-Plan
- Samples: 34 best-selling products from pharma companies, as well as major sports-nutrition firms.
- Tests: True protein %, sugar and calorie load, heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxins, complete gas-chromatography and mass-spectroscopy scan and artificial-sweetener tally and cost-per-gram of real protein.
- Output: Open-access report + searchable spreadsheet that anyone can slice and share.
What Earlier Science Already Warns
- A 2024 multi-lab audit found 70 % of Indian protein powders were mis-labelled or spiked with cheap amino acids. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Independent tests in the US and India keep detecting lead, cadmium and arsenic above safety limits in nearly half of powders on the shelf. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- Case reports link both poorly manufactured whey and soy powders to serious liver injury. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, journals.lww.com)
- Pharma-style nutrition shakes have not escaped trouble—50 + brands were recalled in 2022-25 for bacterial contamination including Listeria and Cronobacter. (aarp.org, fda.gov)
- Courts in India have begun fining companies for “protein spiking” and false claims. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Early Clues: Pharma Drinks May Cost More, Deliver Less
A 400 g tin of a popular pharma drink costs about ₹600 yet supplies just 34 g protein per 100 g—roughly ₹4.50 per gram of protein. A mainstream whey isolate at similar price per kilo delivers over 80 g protein per 100 g, slicing the cost per gram by a third and without the added sugar hit. (protinex.com, amazon.com)
6. Why Crowd-Funded Checks Matter
When industry or regulators lag, citizen science steps in. Transparent, user-funded projects:
- Expose gaps quickly: Results land in weeks, not years.
- Build public trust: No corporate money, no hidden data.
- Pressure regulators: Open evidence forces faster action.
Public-Health Pay-Off for India
High-sugar, low-protein “medical” drinks can worsen diabetes risk and make long-term high-protein therapy unaffordable. Independent testing helps:
- Patients choose truly protein-dense options.
- Doctors prescribe with confidence.
- Honest brands win; shady ones exit.
Protein Supplements Analyzed in Citizen’s Protein Project – Two
| Sl. No. | Product Name | Origin | Unit Qty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B-Protin | Medical | 200g | ₹ 305.00 |
| 2 | BYBV – Concentrate | General | 1000g | ₹ 4,299.00 |
| 3 | Complan NUTRIGO | General | 400g | ₹ 687.50 |
| 4 | D-Protin | Medical | 500g | ₹ 695.00 |
| 5 | Ensure – Diabetes Care | Medical | 375g | ₹ 925.00 |
| 6 | Ensure – High Protein | Medical | 400g | ₹ 880.00 |
| 7 | Ensure – Normal | Medical | 200g | ₹ 440.00 |
| 8 | Horlicks – Protein Plus | General | 400g | ₹ 675.00 |
| 9 | Prohance | Medical | 200g | ₹ 380.00 |
| 10 | Jan Oushadhi – Whey | Medical | 1000g | ₹ 1,499.00 |
| 11 | Nak Pro Whey – Gold | General | 1000g | ₹ 2,999.00 |
| 12 | Nak Pro Whey – Platinum | General | 1000g | ₹ 3,499.00 |
| 13 | Pediasure | Medical | 200g | ₹ 420.00 |
| 14 | Protinex | Medical | 400g | ₹ 675.00 |
| 15 | Resource – High Protein | Medical | 400g | ₹ 1,099.00 |
| 16 | Whole Truth – Concentrate | General | 1000g | ₹ 2,999.00 |
| 17 | Whole Truth – Isolate | General | 1000g | ₹ 4,499.00 |
| 18 | Celevida-LIV | Medical | 400g | ₹ 1,820.00 |
| 19 | Kabi – Pro | Medical | 200g | ₹ 599.00 |
| 20 | Pentasure – HP | Medical | 400g | ₹ 1,532.00 |
| 21 | Naturaltein | General | 300g | ₹ 1,890.00 |
| 22 | TrueBasics Whey Isolate | General | 1000g | ₹ 4,084.00 |
| 23 | Impact Whey Isolate | General | 250g | ₹ 1,799.00 |
| 24 | As-It-Is Whey Isolate | General | 250g | ₹ 950.00 |
| 25 | Fresubin HP | Medical | 400g | ₹ 1,236.00 |
| 26 | Hepa PRO | Medical | 400g | ₹ 795.00 |
| 27 | Lamino HP | Medical | 210g | ₹ 644.00 |
| 28 | Pedia GOLD | Medical | 400g | ₹ 1,696.00 |
| 29 | Avvatar Whey Isolate | General | 1000g | ₹ 3,019.00 |
| 30 | IsoPure | General | 500g | ₹ 2,565.00 |
| 31 | Trunativ – Whey Protein | General | 216g | ₹ 768.00 |
| 32 | MN Whey Concentrate | General | 400g | ₹ 948.00 |
| 33 | Phab Whey | General | 231g | ₹ 899.00 |
| 34 | MAXN Whey | General | 264g | ₹ 1,399.00 |
| 35 | SUPER YOU (Conditional) | General | — | — |
| Total: | ₹ 55,082.00 |
Summary of the Citizens Protein Project 2 (CPP2)
The CPP2 is a citizen-funded study that tested 34 protein powders sold in India, comparing expensive “medical/pharmaceutical” protein powders prescribed to patients (with cancer, liver, kidney diseases) against regular sports/wellness protein powders that consumers buy. The study was conducted by MESH (Mission for Ethics and Science in Healthcare), a non-profit organization.
Key Findings:
1. Medical Pharma Company Protein Powders Are More Contaminated
- 38% of medical protein powders had detectable heavy metals vs only 25% of regular fitness proteins
- 11% of medical proteins had dangerous fungal toxins (aflatoxins) vs 0% in fitness proteins
- 11% of medical proteins had progesterone contamination vs 6% in fitness proteins
2. Hidden Sugars in Medical Pharma Company Products
- 44% of medical proteins contained added sucrose (table sugar), with 5 companies not disclosing this on labels
- 33% of medical proteins had added fructose (an unhealthy sugar), with 5 companies hiding this fact
- The worst offender was a medical protein powder specifically for children
- Regular fitness proteins rarely had added sugars
3. Medical Pharma Company Proteins Have Much Less Actual Protein
- Medical protein powders typically contain only 10-45g of protein per 100g of powder
- Fitness protein powders contain 60-90g of protein per 100g of powder
- The amino acid quality in medical proteins is also much poorer
4. Medical Pharma Company Proteins Cost 3x More Per Gram of Protein
- Example: To get 30g of protein daily, a liver patient would need to consume 250g of Hepapro (medical) costing ₹11,000-15,000 per month
- The same 30g daily protein from fitness whey isolate costs only ₹4,300 per month
- Medical proteins are essentially expensive sugar powders with minimal protein
5. Deceptive Practices
- 89% of medical pharma company proteins added cheap taurine to artificially boost protein readings
- Only 2 fitness proteins did this
- Many medical companies didn’t disclose contaminants or provide third-party testing
The Bottom Line:
Patients who need protein the most (cancer, liver, kidney disease patients) are being sold expensive, sugar-laden, contaminated products with minimal protein by pharmaceutical companies through hospitals. They would be better served by clean, affordable fitness protein powders from the consumer market.
