Sports nutrition manufacturing covers the dosage-form discipline for protein powders (whey concentrate/isolate/hydrolysate, casein, plant proteins), pre-workout formulations (caffeine 150-400 mg, beta-alanine 1.5-3.2 g, citrulline malate, creatine, taurine, tyrosine, theanine), essential and branched-chain amino acid blends, creatine monohydrate, intra-workout carbohydrate/electrolyte and post-workout recovery products. Protein controls include Kjeldahl/DUMAS nitrogen × 6.25 conversion, PDCAAS/DIAAS protein quality scoring, the protein-spiking adulteration screen via orthogonal HPLC amino acid profile verification, dispersibility (lecithin instantizing for cold-water mix), and flavour and high-intensity sweetener integration with palatability validation. Pre-workout controls centre on the banned-stimulant adulterant frontier — DMAA, DMHA, ephedrine, synephrine analogues, higenamine, methylsynephrine, halostachine, oxilofrine, hordenine, BMPEA, deterenol — with per-lot mass spec screen against the current FDA, WADA, NSF, BSCG and USADA panels and ingredient traceability supporting root cause if a banned stimulant is detected post-market. Caffeine source identification (anhydrous, guarana, coffee bean, yerba mate, green tea) for accurate label declaration. EAA/BCAA controls cover humidity envelope below 40% RH in process and packaging, oxygen scavenger and desiccant in primary pack, HPLC amino acid identity with ratio verification (BCAA mis-blend is a frequent failure), and fermentation-source allergen disclosure for vegan amino acids. Creatine monohydrate specifications cover Creapure or equivalent purity (≥99.95%) with creatinine, dicyandiamide and dihydrotriazine impurity ceilings, particle size for dispersibility, and avoidance of pre-dissolved RTD formats where creatine-to-creatinine degradation in solution undermines label dose. Sports-certification readiness layers lot-by-lot WADA-list testing (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, BSCG) onto the manufacturing baseline.

Regulatory anchors