Creatine Gummies Testing Exposes Missing Creatine in Popular Gummy Brands

You pop a few creatine gummies after your workout, confident you're getting the muscle-building supplement advertised on the label. But what if those gummies contain almost no creatine at all?

Recent lab testing has allegedly exposed a disturbing truth about the gummy supplement industry. 

Multiple independent testing programs have reported widespread failures among popular creatine gummy brands, with some products containing as little as 0.005 grams of creatine per serving while claiming to deliver 5 grams.

This investigation into missing active ingredients has sparked class action lawsuits and raised serious questions about supplement fraud and consumer protection.

What Independent Lab Testing Uncovered

The supplement industry testing results paint a troubling picture of possible false potency claims across multiple brands. 

NOW Foods analysis

NOW Foods, a respected supplement company with a long-standing testing program, examined 12 popular creatine gummy brands using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their findings? A staggering 46% failure rate, with six brands failing to meet their label claims.

SuppCo weighs in

NOW Foods wasn't alone in its discoveries. SuppCo, a supplement tracking platform, tested Amazon bestsellers and found even more alarming results.

The second most popular creatine gummy on Amazon, Happyummmm, contained just 0.005 grams of creatine per serving—effectively nothing. EcoWise, the fourth bestselling gummy, also showed zero creatine content in lab tests.

Other third-party testing

Australian fitness trainer James Smith added to the mounting evidence when he commissioned third-party testing on Ovrload brand gummies. 

The lab testing results revealed each gummy contained only 0.0849 grams of creatine, despite claiming 1.5 grams per gummy. To actually get the recommended 5 grams of creatine per serving, consumers would need to consume over 50 gummies daily.

These creatine test results did not match creatine claims across the board, exposing a pattern of alleged dietary supplement fraud that affects thousands of consumers.

Brands Currently Under Investigation

The creatine gummies investigation has identified numerous brands that failed independent testing or face potential legal action. 

Class action attorneys are currently investigating:

Failed NOW Foods Testing:

• Astro Labs - minimal creatine detected.
• Beast Bites - claimed 5g per serving, contained 0.0087g per gummy.
• Create - fell short of 1.5g claim per gummy.
• Con-Cret - detected only 28.3mg versus 250mg claim.
• Greabby - trace amounts found.
• Njord - zero grams of creatine detected despite 5g claim.

SuppCo Amazon Testing Failures:

• Happyummmm - 0.005 grams instead of advertised amount.
• EcoWise - no creatine detected.
• DivinusLab - significantly below label claims.
• Vidabotan - failed to meet advertised potency.

According to the independent analysis, these gummy brands represent over 50,000 creatine products purchased on Amazon in just one month.

The missing ingredients investigations are focusing particularly on consumers in California, Illinois, and New York.

Why These Problems Exist in Gummy Manufacturing 

The NOW Foods report states that the technical challenges behind the alleged supplement fraud stem from the fundamental incompatibility between creatine and gummy manufacturing processes.

Water degrades potency

According to NOW researchers, creatine monohydrate degrades rapidly when mixed with water during gummy production, unlike powder form supplements, which remain relatively stable.

When manufacturers use water to make gummies, the creatine converts into creatinine—an unwanted metabolite that serves as a waste product naturally processed by your kidneys.

Creatinine is not creatine

SuppCo says its team found several creatine gummies to contain significant amounts of unwanted "creatinine," effectively diluting claimed creatine strength.

Independent lab testing revealed several levels of creatinine in all failing products:

• Small amounts in Astro Labs, Greabby, and Njord (suggesting minimal initial creatine).
• Large amounts in Beast Bites and Con-Cret (indicating more creatine that degraded).
• Moderate amounts in Create (showing partial conversion).

Even more concerning, the investigation exposed that many third-party labs lack validated testing methods for gummies. 

Insufficient R&D testing 

NOW Foods couldn't find a single approved third-party lab to test gummies among their vetted partners. This gap in testing capabilities may mean the dosage form has gotten ahead of quality control standards, leaving consumers vulnerable to possible false advertising supplements.

The combination of inherent manufacturing challenges and inadequate testing infrastructure creates a perfect storm for the alleged supplement mislabeling.

How Missing Active Ingredients Impact Your Health and Wallet

The consumer impact extends beyond simple disappointment.

High-end product costs 

Creatine gummies typically cost 10 times more than standard creatine powders, meaning shoppers may be paying premium prices for products that contain almost no creatine. 

Consumers who have been taking these gummies expecting performance benefits have essentially been consuming "expensive candy," according to the NOW report.

Unjust enrichment claims

Let's consider the financial math to understand better how a company may be unethically earning profits from reducing active ingredients.

• An Ovrload consumer would need to take over 50 gummies daily to reach the recommended dose for muscle growth. At today’s prices, that translates to spending hundreds of dollars monthly for what should cost $15-30 in powder form.

Health implications 

The health implications reported by SuppCo researchers also raise additional concerns:

• Ineffective supplementation means missed fitness goals.
• Creatinine accumulation from degraded products.
• Unknown effects of consuming large quantities of gummy fillers.
• Wasted time waiting for results that won't come.

If proven true, the alleged dietary supplement fraud would erode trust across the supplement industry, and consumers would begin to question whether any gummy supplement can deliver advertised potencies, according to SuppCo.

Legal Rights and Class Action Developments

Current class action investigations are targeting companies for possible false potency claims and missing active ingredients. 

Likely class plaintiffs 

Law firms working with legal websites like OnlyClassActions may soon be looking for consumers who purchased Beast Bites Creatine Infused Gummies, Astro Labs Creatine Gummies, Njord Creatine Monohydrate Gummies, or Create Creatine Monohydrate Gummies within the past three years.

Qualifying class

To qualify for potential lawsuits, creating gummy shoppers  would most likely need to meet the following criteria:

• Reside in California, Illinois, or New York.
• Have purchased affected products within three years.
• Have proof of purchase (receipts, order confirmations).
• Be willing to participate in legal proceedings.

Statute violations

Consumer protection laws also provide several avenues for recovery. 

• False advertising statutes allow consumers to seek refunds for products that don't deliver promised benefits. 
• Consumer fraud laws enable additional damages for deceptive business practices.

The timeline from filing to resolution may span between 12 and 24 months, though settlements could occur sooner if companies seek to limit reputation damage.

Industry Accountability and Brand Responses

The creatine gummies investigation has prompted varied responses from implicated brands. Some companies immediately halted sales, while others disputed the testing methodology.

Ovrload response

Ovrload paused all product sales after James Smith's exposé, stating they launched "an immediate and thorough investigation with their manufacturing partner." They appointed an external industry-accredited testing laboratory to verify results.

Con-Cret rebuttal 

Con-Cret challenged NOW Foods' findings, arguing that their creatine hydrochloride requires different testing methods than creatine monohydrate. The company provided certificates of analysis from ISO-accredited labs showing passing results, though not for the specific lot NOW tested.

Create Wellness testing 

Create Wellness published their own testing through Eurofins, showing some flavors met label claims while others fell slightly short. Their CEO acknowledged the need for improvement despite defending overall product quality.

Protecting Yourself from Possible Gummy Supplement Fraud

Savvy shoppers can spot potential red flags in gummy supplement labeling before purchase. NOW Foods suggests that consumers should watch for the following warning signs when choosing their supplements.

Dosage Mathematics Don't Add Up:

• Tiny gummies claiming massive doses
• Serving sizes requiring many gummies
• Vague language about "proprietary blends"

Missing Quality Indicators:

• No third-party testing mentioned
• Lack of specific manufacturing details
• No lot numbers or expiration dates

Price Seems Too Good:

• Significantly cheaper than competitors
• Bulk discounts that seem excessive
• New brands with no track record

To prevent potentially fraudulent gummy purchases, NOW recommends that buyers stick with creatine powder form, choose capsules over gummies, or look for NSF or USP certification on product packaging.

Where Do We Go From Here? 

The evidence from the class action investigation into missing active ingredients speaks volumes: major brands allegedly sold products containing almost no creatine while charging premium prices.

As testing programs expand and legal actions progress, the true scope of the dietary supplement fraud claims continues to emerge and may promise significant changes for how Americans buy and trust nutritional supplements.