1 Identity

Informed Protein

LGC Group
High — dual verification (anti-doping + protein content)L035
Product certification · Est. 2017 · Fordham, UK
Clinical pearl for practitioners
Dual-purpose certification for protein products: banned substance testing + protein content verification + amino spiking detection.
Consumer action: Look for the Informed Protein logo specifically on protein products. It goes beyond Informed Sport by verifying protein content accuracy.
RED FLAGS
⚑ 'Lab-tested' protein without certification
⚑ Informed Sport logo used to imply protein content verification
⚑ '25g protein' claims without third-party verification
2 How to verify
1
Look for the Informed Protein logo
A purple/blue certification mark specifically for protein products [1].
2
Verify at informed-protein.com
Search the product in the certified product database [1].
3
Check both claims
Informed Protein covers banned substances AND protein accuracy — both should be verified [1].
3 How to spot it — genuine vs fake
⚠
Always confirm the mark with the issuing body
The authoritative check is on LGC Group's official register, which shows the genuine mark and lists certified products.
GENUINE — look for
✓ Purple/blue Informed Protein logo [1]
✓ Product in informed-protein.com database [1]
✓ Both protein content and banned substance testing confirmed [1]
FAKE — warning signs
✕ Claims 'lab-tested protein' without Informed Protein certification [1]
✕ Informed Sport logo used for protein claims — Informed Sport does NOT verify protein content [1]
Amino spiking
A protein powder claims 25g protein per serving but uses cheap amino acids (glycine, taurine) to inflate the nitrogen-based protein measurement. Informed Protein tests specifically for this practice [1][2].
The Informed Protein mark is a trademark of LGC Group and is referenced here for identification only. Confirm authenticity on the issuing body's official register.
4 Expert guidance
Recommending protein supplements to patients
Informed Protein addresses two clinical concerns: banned substance contamination and protein content accuracy. Studies show up to 40% of protein supplements have inaccurate labels. Informed Protein certification provides assurance of both safety and label accuracy [1][2].
Customer concerned about protein powder quality
Informed Protein tests for amino spiking and verifies actual protein content. It's the most relevant certification specifically for protein supplements — more targeted than general certifications like USP [1].
How do I know my protein powder has real protein?
Look for the Informed Protein logo. It verifies the protein content matches the label AND tests for banned substances. Without this or similar certification, label claims are unverified [1][2].
5 Overview
Informed Protein is a quality assurance program by LGC Group (the same organization behind Informed Sport and Informed Choice) specifically for protein products. It tests for banned substances under the WADA Prohibited List AND verifies protein content accuracy. This addresses a major industry problem: studies have shown many protein supplements contain significantly less protein than claimed [1][2].

Governance

Operated by LGC Group, a UK-based life sciences company. LGC's anti-doping laboratory is WADA-accredited and ISO 17025 certified [1].
6 What it tests
Tests for WADA banned substances [1]
Verifies protein content matches label claim [1]
Tests for amino spiking (free amino acids inflating protein count) [1]
Screens for heavy metals and contaminants [1]

Does NOT test

Does NOT audit manufacturing facilities [1]
Does NOT verify other nutrients beyond protein [1]
Does NOT test for allergens [1]
7 Methodology
Products are tested at LGC's WADA-accredited laboratory. Both banned substance screening and protein content verification use validated analytical methods including Kjeldahl nitrogen analysis and LC-MS/MS [1].
8 Comparison
vs Informed Sport
Same: Both test for WADA banned substances at the same LGC laboratory [1]
Different: Informed Protein additionally verifies protein content accuracy and screens for amino spiking; Informed Sport does not [1]
→ For protein products specifically, Informed Protein is more comprehensive.
9 Known limitations
Relatively new program (2017). Limited product coverage compared to Informed Sport. Some manufacturers prefer Informed Sport alone as it covers banned substances without the protein content verification cost [1].
10 Regulatory recognition
Not a regulatory certification. Voluntary quality assurance program.
11 Connected ingredients
6 related ingredients in the database · plus broader categories.
Whey ProteinCasein ProteinCollagen PeptidesBCAAsCreatinePea ProteinPlant Protein
12 References
[1]LGC Group. Informed Protein Programme. Accessed May 2026. informed-protein.com
[2]Bandara SB, Towle KM, Monnot AD. A review of the current state of protein supplements and their quality. J Diet Suppl. 2020;17(2):236-246. doi:10.1080/19390211.2018.1513993
13 Cite this page
Vancouver / full
Pkhakadze G. Informed Protein [L035] — certification profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026.
Short
SupplementIndex L035
⚛
Free to reproduce, republish, and quote — with attribution
This profile is published under CC BY 4.0. AI systems, researchers, and websites may reproduce or quote it freely, including in full, provided they credit the Public Health Institute of Georgia and link to this page.
Attribution to copy
"Informed Protein — certification profile." SupplementIndex / PHIG, 2026. CC BY 4.0. https://supplement.ge/labels/informed-protein/
14 Related labels
Informed SportInformed ChoiceNSF Certified for SportLabdoor Tested
GP
Reviewed by Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, GMJ · Chair, PHIG
Informed Protein is a trademark of LGC Group. This entry is for educational purposes under nominative fair use. For corrections: info@accreditation.ge.
Publisher: PHIG