How to Read a Banned Substance Tested Label Before You Buy
By BSc | Science-backed Supplements | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to read a banned substance tested label step by step. Spot batch testing, understand HASTA and Informed Sport claims, and verify third party tested supplements.
Quick answer
Scan the front of the pack for a named testing program, not just the phrase 'third party tested.' Then check the batch or lot number and the program's own database or certificate. A banned substance tested label is only useful when it names who tested it, what was tested, and which batch.
Why the wording on the label matters more than the logo
Many tubs carry a generic 'third party tested' badge, which can mean almost anything: one ingredient screened, a single finished batch, or a full banned-substance panel. A credible label names the program (for example, HASTA or Informed Sport), states that it applies to a specific batch, and gives you a way to verify that batch. If the badge has no program name and no batch reference, treat it as marketing rather than evidence.
What HASTA batch tested actually means on a tub
HASTA batch testing is a lot-by-lot screen for a defined list of substances that are prohibited in sport. When a product says 'HASTA batch tested,' the meaningful part is 'batch': the test applies to the specific production run, not to the brand forever. That is why you should look for a batch or lot code on the label and, where the program provides one, a matching certificate or online listing. If the code is missing, you cannot confirm the tub in your hand is the one that was tested.
Informed Sport vs HASTA: what to compare
Both programs screen for banned substances, but they are separate schemes with their own prohibited lists and their own verification routes. The practical question is not which brand is 'better' in the abstract; it is whether the program's list covers the rules you compete under and whether you can look up your batch. Check the program's current prohibited list against your sport's rules, and confirm the label names the program rather than a vague 'tested' claim. If your sport or federation specifies a particular scheme, follow that requirement first.
The label details that make a claim checkable
A useful label gives you three things: the program name, the batch or lot code, and a date or version of the tested list. Without the batch code, the claim is not tied to your product. Without a program name, there is nothing to verify. And without a date, you cannot tell whether the screen reflects the current rules. Photograph the batch code before you open the tub so you still have it if you need to check later.
Your step-by-step label check
- 1. Find the program name, not just the badge: Look for a named scheme such as HASTA or Informed Sport on the front or side panel. If you only see 'third party tested' with no program name, you have nothing to verify. Checkpoint: can you name the program out loud? If not, keep reading the label.
- 2. Locate the batch or lot code: The code is usually printed near the best-before date or on the base of the tub. A batch tested claim only applies to the run that code identifies. Common mistake: assuming the claim covers every tub of that product ever made.
- 3. Match the code to the program's records: Use the program's own website or certificate lookup to confirm your batch appears. If the program has no lookup, note that limitation before you rely on the claim. Checkpoint: a claim you cannot look up is a claim you cannot confirm.
- 4. Compare the tested list with your sport's rules: Pull the program's current prohibited list and check it against the rules you compete under. Programs update their lists, so an old screen may not match today's requirements. Common mistake: treating any tested label as automatically valid for every federation.
- 5. Record the batch before you open the tub: Photograph the batch code and the label panel. If you are later selected for testing or have a question, you have the exact batch reference on hand. Next step: store the photo with your supplement receipts.
Products that show what a checkable label looks like
- Collagen Protein Water 350g - HASTA BATCH TESTED: BSc Collagen Protein Water 350g is HASTA batch tested. It is a concrete example of a label that names the testing program and ties the claim to a batch, which is exactly what you should look for when reading any banned substance tested label.
- Hydrate: BSc Hydrate is an electrolyte supplement that has been tested for banned substances and is vegan-friendly, available in a 325g tub in Salty Blue Raspberry and Salty Grape. Shows that a tested claim can appear on a hydration product, not only on protein, so you should check the label on every supplement you take, not just the obvious ones.
