How can you tell if creatine is fake or diluted?

Can you test creatine for fakes at home?

Not properly. Pure creatine monohydrate is a white, odourless, slightly gritty powder. Fillers such as maltodextrin, glycine or other white powders can look identical, and home tricks (sniffing, tasting, watching it dissolve, flame tests) cannot separate real from diluted product. Only a laboratory can confirm content. This is why the strongest protection is the supply chain, not a kitchen test.

What checks can you actually do?

1. Buy from the brand or a major retailer. Dis-Chem, Clicks, Takealot (when sold and shipped by Takealot), Faithful to Nature, Wellness Warehouse and brand shops such as USN, Biogen and ATP Fitness are lower risk than unknown marketplace sellers. See are Takealot supplements genuine.
2. Inspect the pack. Look for an intact tamper seal, clean printing and a lid that was not previously opened.
3. Read the label. South African labelling law (R146) requires a product name, ingredient list, net quantity in metric units, manufacturer or importer name and SA address, country of origin, batch number and date marking. A tub missing these is a red flag.
4. Check the ingredient list. Genuine creatine monohydrate lists a single ingredient: creatine monohydrate. Be careful with "creatine matrix" or "complex" products, which are mixes.
5. Check the nutrition table. It should show creatine per serving that matches the stated dose. A 5 g serving should be about 5 g of creatine.

What does a normal price look like?

As of October 2026, plain creatine monohydrate costs roughly:

Prices for the same product can differ by 40–80% between retailers, so a low price alone does not prove a fake. A tub priced at R1 per 5 g or an unfamiliar "500 g for R120" is a warning sign.

Why does dilution matter?

Dilution wastes money and underdoses you. There is a bigger concern too: protein and creatine products can be manipulated. University of Pretoria researchers found measured protein differed from the label in 68.6% of 70 SA sports supplements. Creatine and other cheap nitrogen sources are also used to inflate protein numbers, known as amino spiking.

What if you are drug-tested?

Contamination is the risk, not just dilution. Choose a single-ingredient product with third-party batch testing that you can verify on the scheme's register. Biogen's creatine carries a seller claim of Informed Sport testing (certificate not independently checked). ATP Fitness does not publish sport certification. See what third-party tested means.

What should you do if you suspect a fake?

Stop using it, keep the tub and receipt, and contact the retailer and the brand. Misleading claims or counterfeit goods can be reported under the Consumer Protection Act (section 41) to the National Consumer Commission. If you feel unwell after using a supplement, speak to a doctor.

For safe sourcing see where to buy supplements online safely.

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