Independent laboratory finding
Dr. Vaidya's Weight Plus: Citizens Protein Project 1 finding (2024)
Last checked 19 September 2026. A few details are still being checked against the original document.
The Citizens Protein Project 1 (April 2024) detected the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam in Dr. Vaidya's Weight Plus; no FSSAI action on the product is on record as of 19 Sep 2026.
- Classification
- Independent lab test finding: Lab-flagged (independent test)
- Tested by
- No regulator action; independent test result (Citizens Protein Project 1, published study)
- Reference
- Citizens Protein Project 1, Medicine, April 2024 (doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037724)
- Latest action
- 1 April 2024
- Last checked
- 19 September 2026details being verified
Photo: Whey Protein Scoop (49935767168).jpg by Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA (CC BY 2.0). All photo credits.
70% of 36 popular protein supplements sold in India mislabeled, 14 contain toxins, says new study
No regulator has acted on this finding. It comes from a published study or a private testing company, and the brand may dispute it.
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 Always check the linked government document for the current position, and tell us if something is out of date.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 the test or study found. No regulator has acted on it.
Key facts
- Brand
- Dr. Vaidya's
- Study
- Citizens Protein Project 1 to 36 products, published April 2024
- Pesticide detected
- Thiamethoxam (level vs MRL:, being verified
- Product type
- Ayurvedic weight-gain protein blend
- Regulator action
- None on record
Dr. Vaidya's Weight Plus, an ayurvedic weight-gain supplement combining protein with herbal ingredients, was reported by the Citizens Protein Project 1 to contain thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used on Indian crops. The residue most likely entered through a plant or herbal raw material; whether the level exceeded a maximum residue limit is to be confirmed from the paper. The product also falls within the herbal-blend category on which the study's authors issued a general caution about botanicals with hepatotoxic potential. No FSSAI action on the product is on record and no company response has been located.
What this means for you
A study result, not a regulatory finding
FSSAI has taken no action on this product on the basis of the study. The finding describes the sample the researchers bought.
If you use it, ask for the batch certificate
Manufacturers hold certificates of analysis per batch. NABL-accredited laboratories will also test a tub for protein and contaminants.
This is a record of official orders, not medical advice. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Official sources and primary records
- The Citizens Protein Project: a self-funded, transparent, and concerned-citizen-driven study of protein supplements sold in India (Apr 2024)StudyMedicine (Wolters Kluwer)
- 70% of 36 popular protein supplements sold in India mislabeled, 14 contain toxins, says new studyNewsThePrint
- Citizens Protein Project results threadStudyThread Reader (X thread)