FSSAI notice
Delhi Police bust fake whey protein unit in Brahmpuri (Mar 2026)
Last checked 21 September 2026
On 6 Mar 2026 Delhi Police Crime Branch seized about 100 kg of counterfeit protein powder packed as Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey, Syntha-6 and Isopure Zero Carb, plus raw material and labels, in Brahmpuri; genuine brands are not affected.
- Classification
- Declared spurious (fake or misbranded)
- Decided by
- Delhi Police, Crime Branch
- Reference
- FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957, Crime Branch, Delhi, Mar 2026
- Latest action
- 8 March 2026
- Last checked
- 21 September 2026
Photo: Whey Protein Scoop (49935767168).jpg by Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA (CC BY 2.0). All photo credits.
Delhi Crime Branch busts fake protein supplement racket, two arrested
Our team has checked this record against the published reports, last on 21 September 2026. The government order itself is not published online, or we have not found it yet, so we link the best public report. If you have the order, send it to us and we will link it instead.
Scope. A record here does not by itself mean a product or company is unsafe or banned today. Regulatory actions can apply to one batch, one formulation, one period or one state. Always check the linked government document for the current position, and tell us if something is out of date. How we label records.
Below: Blacklisted's explanationWe explain what has been reported. The report above is the best source we hold.
Key facts
- Raid
- 6 Mar 2026, Brahmpuri, northeast Delhi
- Seized
- About 100 kg of finished counterfeit protein; 55 kg of raw material (maltodextrin, whey powder, fat powder, cocoa, flavours); brand stickers, hologram labels, seals, jars and lids; two mixing machines and weighing scales
- Brands copied
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, BSN Syntha-6, Isopure Zero Carb
- How it was made
- Maltodextrin and flavouring mixed and packed under branded labels
- Arrests
- Two, per police (names withheld here)
- Genuine products
- Not affected. This is a counterfeiting case, not a regulatory action against the brands
On 6 Mar 2026 the Crime Branch of Delhi Police raided a small unit in Brahmpuri, northeast Delhi, that was producing counterfeit protein powder. Police said the operation mixed maltodextrin with flavouring agents and packed it in jars carrying the labels of popular imported brands: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, BSN Syntha-6 Ultra Premium Protein Matrix and Isopure Zero Carb.
The seizure, reported by IANS on 8 Mar 2026, came to about 100 kg of finished counterfeit product and 55 kg of raw material, including maltodextrin, whey protein powder, fat powder, cocoa powder and flavourings, along with brand stickers, hologram labels, seals, plastic jars and lids, two mixing machines and weighing scales. Two people were arrested and a case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957.
The case says nothing about the genuine products, which are imported and licensed. It does show how the fakes are built: the bulk ingredient is maltodextrin, a cheap carbohydrate, so a scoop of the counterfeit delivers sugar where the label promises protein. Where the stock was sold, and whether any reached online marketplaces, was not stated by police.
What this means for you
Cheap 'imported' whey is the warning sign
Counterfeits are built from maltodextrin, which is sugar, not protein. A price well below the importer's listed price is the main tell.
Check the importer's label
Genuine imported supplements carry an FSSAI importer licence number and an Indian importer's name and address. Missing or blurry labels are a reason to walk away.
Scan the code, but do not trust it alone
Counterfeiters copy holograms and QR codes. Buy from the brand's listed sellers.
This is a record of official orders, not medical advice. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Common questions
Is Optimum Nutrition whey fake in India?
The genuine product is not. A Delhi unit was caught in Mar 2026 packing maltodextrin under its label. Buy from listed importers and sellers.
Official sources and primary records
- Delhi Crime Branch busts fake protein supplement racket, two arrestedNewsSocialNews.xyz (IANS) · 8 March 2026
- Delhi Crime Branch busts fake protein supplement racket, two arrestedNewsTHIP Media · 8 March 2026