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 Thursday at 08:08 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. 

[PeckhamNicola]

kids can drink in pubs at 16 if accompanied by a parent who buys the drink. and some restrictions about what they drink- eg not spirits. astonishing I know, but revealed to me by my son who is generally lazy when it comes to schoolwork but very good at research on certain key topics. 

[beansprout]

Why don’t you just take it back and ask for a refund - explain obviously if already open.

Not surprised at all - one in Bromley looks up what you are asking for on Google or if you need advice samething - Dafty here, thought they came from a nutritional background as thought H k B  were leaders in their field.

 

[jazzer]

Simple question, why is a 16 year old taking protein powders? If they want to build up muscle, try using weights in the gym, doing it naturally. 

Presumably  these powers are not natural products and more likely to be synthetic materials? 

[ianr]

On your last point jazzer, no. I've been reading around various aspects of them today.  The majority of them appear to be not much more than whey obtained from milk. That makes them about 75-80% protein. Have  a look at the H&B products.  They list all constituents.

On the 18+ issue, OP, I suspect that what you noticed was probably at most a recommendation that they not be used by under-18s.  Even then, I only came across it on one website, by chance, when seeking for evidence of prohibitions:  https://ultimatesupsg.com/blogs/nutrition/whey-protein-should-individuals-under-the-age-of-18-take-whey-protein-to-build-muscle.

Edited Thursday at 16:21 by ianr

[David Peckham]

They're a supplement, usually made from whey, which are used after weight training.

The theory is that weight training tears the muscle fibres (Feel The Burn, No Pain No Gain, etc), protein helps repair this and aid lean muscle growth. The faster you can get protein into your system, the better, so obviously liquids are absorbed faster than solids

Beans, poached egg or peanut butter on toast, are pretty typical post training meals to achieve the same thing.

They're much like a very thin milkshake or Slim fast, so nothing anabolic.

I used them when I was training three or four times a week and the results were pretty good, if I do say so myself.

 

Cross-post with Ianr

Edited Thursday at 16:25 by David Peckham

[malumbu]

37 minutes ago, ianr said:

On your last point jazzer, no. I've been reading around various aspects of them today.  The majority of them appear to be not much more than whey obtained from milk....

I was a bit bemused like others no doubt.  Why the original post and what the intention was - to get everyone to stop using the business?  Surely taking it up with the shop is sufficient.  They score pretty well on Trustpilot with 30,000 reviews 60 percent 5, and a few stinkers for a variety of issues 

I also wondered why a 16 year old was taking supplements, I know they are popular in older teens and young men.

I did my research too, like Ian above.  Lightly or unregulated, government advice is to go for whole foods.  And yes expect the 18 + is advisory.

[TWB Cat Sitter]

If the product states that it's not suitable for anyone under the age of 18 on the package, were you not given a warning by the brand itself? Why would any advice provided by H&B assistants override that?

[satsuma]

If it's just protein powder it's fine for a 16 year old. Kidney problems? Is it creatine? Even that will likely be ok but that's all I can think of.

[SeaHibiscus]

Is this a true story? What protein powder causes kidney damage? Why didn't you cite an article?

I shop at H&B, mostly to buy their castor oil, however, I would recommend researching any product beforehand. They do have very informative articles on their website.

To be honest, I don't see the point of this post. You could have just taken the product back for a refund or complained in store and in writing.

[malumbu]

I've found it quite a useful thread.  Apparently protein powders are toxic.

Not that I have ever, or will ever, try them.

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-hidden-dangers-of-protein-powders