Does pre-workout expire and how should you store it?

Does pre-workout expire?

Yes. Every pre-workout sold in South Africa should show a batch number and a date mark, both required by R146. That date is the maker's guarantee of quality: potency, flavour and how well the powder mixes. It is not a cliff edge. A dry, sealed powder is usually still safe a short time after the date, but you can no longer rely on the label doses, and you have no way to check them at home.

What damages pre-workout powder?

• Moisture. Pre-workouts are often mixes containing acids (such as malic acid in citrulline malate) and sweeteners that attract moisture from the air. The result is clumping, then hard cakes.
• Heat. Cars, kitchens next to the kettle, and gym bags left in a boot all push temperature up. Heat speeds flavour loss and caking.
• Contamination. A wet scoop returned to the tub, or fingers in the powder, can seed mould.

In coastal humidity, in Durban or Cape Town in summer, caking happens quickly once the seal is broken. A hot car ruins powder anywhere in the country.

How should you store pre-workout in South Africa?

1. Keep the tub in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove, kettle, window and bathroom.
2. Use the dry scoop supplied, and keep it outside the tub or in a sealed bag.
3. Close the lid firmly after every use. Keep the silica sachet if one is included.
4. Do not carry the whole tub in a gym bag for weeks. Use a small, clean, dry container for a few sessions at a time.
5. Buy the size you will finish: a 600 g tub such as Biogen Premium Pre-Workout takes much longer to finish than a 240 g Nutritech Nuke, and the longer a tub stays open, the more it is exposed.

More general advice is in how to store supplements in South African heat.

When should you throw it out?

• Visible mould, or a damp, sour or musty smell.
• A hard cake that will not break up, or clumps that stay after shaking.
• Colour changes, or a sharp chemical smell different from when it was new.
• A date mark that is more than a few months past, if the tub has been open in warm weather.

Caffeine and amino acids are chemically fairly stable, so the main losses are in taste and texture, and the main safety issue is spoilage from moisture. Powder that is only slightly lumpy but smells normal can often be broken up and used, but if you are in doubt, do not use it.

Is an expired pre-workout dangerous?

Usually the risk is mould or contamination rather than the ingredients themselves. See do supplements expire and are expired supplements dangerous for the wider picture. If you feel unwell after taking a product, stop using it and speak to a pharmacist or doctor. For choosing between products, use best pre-workout in South Africa.

Stimulant pre-workouts are not for under-18s or for use in pregnancy. If you have kidney, heart or blood-pressure problems, or take regular medication, check with a doctor or pharmacist before using any pre-workout.

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