How to Check a Supplement Is Genuine in India

Every supplement sold legally in India must carry an FSSAI licence number on the label, and its absence is disqualifying on its own. Beyond that, the three checks that matter are the brand's own authenticity verification, usually a scratch code or QR code on the tub that is validated on the brand's site, the seller's authorisation status rather than its star rating, and the physical condition of the seal and batch printing. Counterfeit risk is concentrated on open marketplace listings from third-party sellers, and it rises during festive sale periods when listing volume grows. Buying from the brand's own store or a named authorised retailer removes most of the risk at a small price premium.

1. The FSSAI licence number, first and non-negotiable: A 14-digit FSSAI licence number is mandatory on any supplement sold in India. If the label does not carry one, the product is not legally sold here regardless of how convincing the packaging looks. This single check rules out a large share of counterfeit and grey-import listings, and it takes seconds. 2. The brand's own authenticity code: Most major supplement brands sold in India print a scratch-off or QR authenticity code on the tub, verified on the brand's website or app. Use the brand's own site rather than a link or QR destination printed on the packaging, because a counterfeiter who printed the tub also printed the QR code. 3. Seller authorisation, not seller rating: A four-and-a-half star third-party seller is not the same as an authorised one. Check whether the listing is sold by the brand's official store or a named authorised distributor. This is the single strongest predictor of authenticity on Indian marketplaces, and it is more informative than any review score. 4. Seal, batch printing and expiry: Genuine tubs have an intact inner foil seal, a batch number and expiry that are printed or laser-etched rather than stickered, and consistent print quality. A stickered batch code, a seal that has been reapplied, or an expiry date that differs between the tub and the outer label are all reasons to return it. 5. Price far below every other listing: Supplement margins are not wide enough to support a genuine product at a large discount to the authorised price. A protein tub materially cheaper than the brand store and every other authorised seller is usually explained by what is in it, or by an expiry date much closer than you expected. 6. Amino spiking, which is legal and still worth knowing about: Some products inflate their measured protein figure using cheap free-form amino acids. It is not counterfeiting and the label is not false, but it means the protein number is not comparable across brands. Read the full ingredient list rather than the protein figure on the front.

Check the FSSAI licence number before anything else, then verify the brand's authenticity code on the brand's own website rather than through a QR code printed on the packaging. Prefer the brand's official store or a named authorised seller over a highly rated third-party listing, particularly during festive sale periods when marketplace listing volume rises. Inspect the inner seal, the batch printing and the expiry date on arrival and return the product immediately if any of them look inconsistent, because the return window is short and a supplement is not something to take a chance on. This page is about verifying that a product is what its label says it is. It is not guidance on whether you should be taking a supplement at all, what dose is appropriate, or whether it suits a medical condition, pregnancy or existing medication - those are questions for a doctor or a registered dietitian, not for a product page.