BAD ADVICE FROM HOLLAND & BARRETT

[i*Rate]

Me and my wife went to Holland & Barrett yesterday and bought some protein powder for our 16-year-old grandson who is going to the gym at The Dulwich Leisure Centre regularly with his friends. We chose a different brand for him as his usual was unavailable and noticed that it had 18 on the packaging. When we checked with the two assistants they just asked if he had taken it before and when we said yes, they said that it was OK for him. 

Doing some research online today we now know it is not safe for him and can cause kidney damage.  We didn't know about this before as his friends were all taking it too so we thought it was fine. Those assistant mislead us and that's very wrong of Holland & Barrett, they just wanted the sale of £13.50. We will be making a complaint to their head office.

[ydrmdy]

Your point? 

Why did you buy it, don't you have a mind of your own??

[ianr]

I think you need to say here what specific preparation and brand it was.  I can't even find any protein powder on the H&B web page https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/sports-nutrition/protein/ at £13.50, only one item reduced from £13.50 to £8, and doubt it was that    Also, please, link/s to whichever article/s it was that mentioned kidney damage.

Edited 3 hours ago by ianr

[Penguin68]

35 minutes ago, i*Rate said:

When we checked with the two assistants they just asked if he had taken it before and when we said yes, they said that it was OK for him. 

But I thought you said that this was a new brand for him, as his regular brand wasn't available - in which case shouldn't your answer have been 'no'?

[alice]

I would imagine that the evidence shows that protein powder is not suitable for under 18s whatever the brand.  Staff should’ve known that.

[Penguin68]

1 hour ago, alice said:

Staff should’ve known that.

18 isn't a magical age for growth, I'm guessing that it is at least size related. Some bodies will be more 'mature' at 16 than others. 

[alice]

Maybe some bodies are mature enough at 16 to start drinking in pubs. 
But that’s irrelevant  -  

[Penguin68]

No it isn't. Pub drinking age is set by law, nobody is suggesting that an advisory statement about drug tolerances has any legal bearing. 

[Angelina]

You can buy protein powder for 11+ teenagers. Health food shop should have advised that. Advice should be correct, regardless of whether the person has taken a product before.

I would also raise it with the store manager as it suggests either lack of knowledge or lack of care - probably not Head Office though.