Our standard

Every product earns its place.

Supplement sample being examined in a laboratory

Evidence

Is there a legitimate, scientifically supported reason to use it?

We look at the research on the ingredient and whether the actual product contains meaningful amounts.

Testing

Can the quality of the actual product be independently substantiated?

We ask for proof about the finished product on our shelf — not only the manufacturer's word.

Value

Does it provide genuine value for the customer?

A product has to be worth what you pay for it, and worth the space it takes on our shelf.

What third-party testing means

An organisation independent of the manufacturer examines the product. Different programmes answer different questions — a banned-substance certificate does not prove every label claim, and no certification removes all risk.

Identity & potency

Does it contain what the label says, in the amounts stated?

Label-claim testing measures each key ingredient and compares it with the label, within an agreed tolerance.

Checks: Protein per serving · Creatine per scoop · Caffeine per serving · EPA + DHA per capsule · Elemental magnesium

Protein authenticity

Is the protein figure real protein, not inflated with cheap amino acids?

Basic protein tests measure nitrogen, which can be boosted by adding cheap amino acids (“amino spiking”). An amino-acid profile shows what's really there.

Checks: Full amino-acid profile · Screening for added glycine, taurine or other fillers

Purity & contaminants

Have heavy metals and unwanted substances been checked?

Results are compared against legal or programme limits. Contaminants can come from raw materials or processing.

Checks: Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury · Pesticide residues · Manufacturing by-products (e.g. in creatine)

Microbiology

Is it free from harmful bacteria, yeast and mould?

Powders and plant-based blends in particular are checked to make sure they are safe to consume.

Checks: Salmonella and E. coli · Yeast and mould · Total bacterial count

Stability & freshness

Does it stay at strength and fresh until its best-before date?

Some ingredients degrade. Fish oil can oxidise, which affects quality, smell and taste.

Checks: Fish-oil oxidation (peroxide, anisidine, TOTOX) · Shelf-life and potency over time

Sporting eligibility

Has it been screened for substances prohibited in drug-tested sport?

Programmes like Informed Sport focus here. Passing this does not by itself prove the label amounts are exact.

Checks: WADA-prohibited substances such as stimulants and steroids

Reading a lab report

A Certificate of Analysis is only as useful as what it covers. We check that:

The product name, size and flavour match exactly what's on our shelf.
The batch (lot) number matches the tub — results for one batch don't prove another.
The lab is independent of the manufacturer, ideally ISO/IEC 17025 accredited.
It lists which tests were run — content, contaminants, microbiology — not just “passed”.
Each result is shown against a specification or limit.
It's recent, dated and signed or otherwise traceable to the lab.

A branded ingredient

tells us something about where an ingredient came from.

e.g. Creapure, Albion, Cluster Dextrin

Independent finished-product testing

tells us something about the product being sold.

Recognised programmes

Informed Sport

Screens for prohibited substances. Every batch is tested before release.

Batch-level testing — the stronger option for drug-tested athletes, who can check their batch number online.

Informed Choice

Screens for prohibited substances via regular monthly retail sampling.

Monitors the product over time, but not every batch is tested.

NSF Certified for Sport

Screens for prohibited substances, verifies label claims, and audits manufacturing.

Combines banned-substance screening with label-content verification.

BSCG

Banned-substance and drug screening programme, with optional label and quality testing.

Listed only where independently substantiated for the exact product.

IFOS

Fish-oil specific: tests omega-3 content, contaminants and oxidation.

Product and lot specific. A brand name containing “IFOS” is not itself proof.

Independent laboratory report

A product-specific analysis from an accredited lab.

Useful when scope, lab accreditation, product and batch are all clearly documented.

Where each product stands

What each brand publishes about its testing, for each type of check above. "Brand claim" is what the brand says itself; "Independent certifier" means an outside programme lists the product. We're asking suppliers for batch lab reports to fill the gaps.

iO.GENIX Whey 80

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand states it uses LACTOMIN® whey concentrate and premium raw materials; label figures published on its technical sheet.
Protein authenticity: Brand claimBrand publishes a BCAA ratio (8:1:1); no full amino-acid test report published.
Purity & contaminants: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: iO.GENIX Whey 80 technical sheet

iO.GENIX ISO

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand states it uses premium whey isolate raw materials; label figures published on its product page.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: iO.GENIX product page

Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand states 100% pure creatine monohydrate tested against its own specifications.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Brand claimBrand states raw materials are tested in-house and its factories hold food-safety certifications.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Independent certifierListed by Optimum Nutrition as Informed Choice certified (regular banned-substance spot checks).

Sources: Optimum Nutrition: Informed Choice products · Optimum Nutrition: Our quality

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand states premium raw materials and in-house quality testing.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Brand claimBrand states its factories hold food-safety and quality certifications.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsNot on the brand's Informed Choice list. A separate 'Elite' version is Informed Sport certified — check which one we stock.

Sources: Optimum Nutrition: Informed Choice products · Optimum Nutrition: Our quality

iO.GENIX Ciclodextrin Professional

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand names the patented ingredient Cluster Dextrin™ (made by Glico) on its technical sheet.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: iO.GENIX Ciclodextrin technical sheet · Glico: Cluster Dextrin

iO.GENIX Super Omega-3 IFOS

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Independent certifierIFOS™ (Nutrasource) certified — IFOS checks EPA/DHA content against the label, batch by batch.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Independent certifierIFOS™ checks heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins. Friend of the Sea certified for sustainable sourcing.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Independent certifierIFOS™ checks oxidation (peroxide, anisidine, TOTOX).
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: Nutrasource IFOS listing: iO.GENIX Super Omega 3 · iO.GENIX Super Omega 3 page

iO.GENIX Magnesium Bisglycinate Albion

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand uses Albion® TRAACS® magnesium bisglycinate — a branded, fully reacted chelate made by Balchem/Albion.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: iO.GENIX product page · Balchem: Albion magnesium bisglycinate

iO.GENIX Green Plus

Confirmed

Identity & potency: Brand claimBrand names patented ingredients (HiFiber VitaBerry®, Vita Veggi®, Astragin®, Digezyme®, LactoSpore®) on its product page.
Protein authenticity: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Purity & contaminants: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Microbiology: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Stability & freshness: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.
Sporting eligibility: Awaiting resultsAwaiting testing results from manufacturer.

Sources: iO.GENIX Green Plus page

The Elements Promise

We stock only what we would recommend to someone we train.
We tell you when you probably don't need a supplement.
We only claim what we can independently substantiate.
We explain the limits as clearly as the benefits.