Key takeaways
- Informed Sport does not mean halal. It tests for banned substances, not for gelatine, pork or alcohol-derived ingredients.
- Informed Sport tests every batch of a product for banned substances before it goes on sale.
- Informed Choice tests products too, but not every batch: at least twelve batches a year, bought blind from shops.
- Informed Manufacturer certifies the factory, not the product. Finished products are not tested.
- Tested Muslim athletes need both checks: a batch-tested product and halal approved ingredients.
In this guide
No, an Informed Sport logo does not tell you a supplement is halal. Informed Sport tests each batch for substances banned in sport. It does not check whether the gelatine, whey, flavourings or colours are halal.
So a Muslim athlete who is drug tested needs two separate checks: batch testing for banned substances, and halal approval for the ingredients. This guide explains both, and what the three Informed logos actually mean.
Is an Informed Sport product halal?
Only if it is also halal approved. Banned-substance testing and halal approval answer different questions.
Common halal problems in sports supplements include gelatine capsules, whey made with animal rennet, carmine (E120) colouring and flavourings carried in alcohol. None of these is a banned substance, so none would fail an Informed Sport test.
| Question | Answered by Informed Sport? | Answered by halal approval? |
|---|---|---|
| Is this batch free of substances banned in sport? | Yes | No |
| Is the capsule pork or beef gelatine? | No | Yes |
| Was the whey made with halal rennet? | No | Yes |
| Is there alcohol or carmine in the flavour or colour? | No | Yes |
For the full label check, see our 9 halal red flags in gym supplements. Read more in are gelatine capsules halal? and is whey protein halal?
The three Informed logos compared
| Informed Sport | Informed Choice | Informed Manufacturer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is certified? | The product | The product | The factory (site) |
| Finished product tested? | Yes, every batch before release | Yes, at least 12 batches a year | No |
| Batch lookup online? | Yes | Yes | No (site directory only) |
| Best for | Drug-tested athletes | Regular gym users wanting extra assurance | A sign of good factory controls |
Source: LGC's Informed Sport vs Informed Choice page and Informed Manufacturer FAQs.
Informed Sport: every batch tested
LGC says Informed Sport is the only global programme that “tests every single batch of a product prior to it being released to market”. It was developed with UK Anti-Doping and screens for more than 285 substances banned in sport (LGC).
After certification, products are also bought from shops and tested again. You can check a batch number on the Informed Sport website or app.
Informed Choice: regular blind testing
Informed Choice is a retail monitoring programme. LGC buys products from shops and tests them blind. “At least twelve lots/batches of the product are tested at random every year”, but it is “not guaranteed that every batch has been tested” (LGC).
In short: Informed Choice is good assurance for everyday training. If you are tested in competition, look for Informed Sport and check the batch.
Informed Manufacturer: the factory, not the tub
Informed Manufacturer certifies a manufacturing site. Auditors review the site, swab key areas and test the swabs for more than 285 prohibited substances. Sites are re-audited every year (LGC).
LGC is clear about the limits. Site certification “does NOT mean that finished products have been tested”, and the name cannot be used “to imply the quality of a finished product” (LGC FAQs).
We say this plainly because it matters. Our workout range is made in a UK Informed Manufacturer facility. Our products are not Informed Sport or Informed Choice certified, so they are not batch tested for banned substances.
What UK Anti-Doping advises
UK Anti-Doping is blunt: “There are no guarantees that any supplement product is free from banned substances.” Under strict liability, athletes are responsible for anything in their system, however it got there (UKAD: managing supplement risks).
UKAD's three steps:
- Assess the need. Ask a qualified professional whether you need it at all.
- Assess the risk. Use only batch-tested products and check the actual batch number before use.
- Assess the consequences. A positive test can mean a ban of up to four years.
If you compete under anti-doping rules (national, university, county or pro), only use products whose batch you have checked on an independent batch-testing site. No logo removes all risk, and any claim of “WADA approved” or “UKAD approved” is false.
Which one do you need?
- Tested athlete: Informed Sport, with the batch number checked.
- Regular gym user, not tested: any of the three is a useful quality signal. A short ingredient list and clear label matter as much.
- Allergies: read the allergy advice. A factory can be certified and still handle allergens.
Our creatine label, for example, says it is made in a facility that handles milk, egg, soy, gluten, nuts and crustaceans.
How to check both: a 4-step routine
- Halal first. Look for halal approval and read the ingredients for gelatine, rennet, carmine and alcohol.
- Batch next. If you are drug tested, find the batch number and look it up on the Informed Sport site or app.
- Keep proof. Screenshot the batch result and keep the tub or a photo of it.
- Ask if unsure. Ask the brand for its halal certificate, and your governing body about anti-doping.
See our guide to halal supplement certification and is creatine halal?
A simple, halal approved creatine
Vegan · Halal approved
Creatine Monohydrate 500g
- One ingredient: creatine monohydrate, 5g per serving
- 100 servings, unflavoured
- Made in a UK Informed Manufacturer facility (not batch tested)
HALAL10 10% off your first order
Shop Creatine →Creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 3g of creatine. For timing, see our BCAA vs creatine guide.
Common questions
Are Informed Sport supplements halal?
Not automatically. Informed Sport tests for banned substances, not halal status. Check for halal approval and read the ingredients separately.
Is Informed Manufacturer the same as Informed Sport?
No. Informed Manufacturer certifies the factory. Informed Sport tests every batch of the finished product before sale.
Does Informed Choice test every batch?
No. LGC tests at least twelve batches a year, bought blind from shops. Every batch is not guaranteed to be tested.
How do I check a batch number?
Find the batch or lot number on the tub. Enter it on the Informed Sport website or app. If the batch is not listed, do not assume it was tested.
Do I need Informed Sport if I just go to the gym?
Not usually, unless you are drug tested. A clear label, sensible dose and a trusted UK seller matter most.
Is BioBodyBoost creatine Informed Sport certified?
No. It is made in a UK Informed Manufacturer facility, which is a site certification. It is halal approved and vegan.
Can a supplement be WADA approved?
No. WADA and UKAD do not approve or certify supplements. UKAD says such claims are inaccurate.
Sources: LGC: Informed Sport vs Informed Choice · LGC: Informed Manufacturer process · LGC: Informed Manufacturer FAQs · UKAD: managing supplement risks · FSA: food supplements guidance
General information, not medical or anti-doping advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Not recommended for under-18s. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a kidney condition, speak to your GP before use. Athletes should follow their governing body's and UKAD's guidance.
