Those Viral Bodega Peptides Aren’t Actually Peptides
Wired investigated viral 'bodega peptides' sold for health and recovery purposes and found that the products contained none of the active ingredients listed on their labels. Independent testing revealed that the vials were either mislabeled or contained degraded substances, highlighting the risks of purchasing unregulated health supplements.
Why it matters
This exposes the dangers of the unregulated 'biohacking' market and the lack of quality control for products sold directly to consumers.
Mr. Green is one of several shops that went viral this summer for selling peptides, a broad class of amino acids touted for their ability to aid in everything from weight loss to injury recovery. For $376.20, we acquired four varieties: PT-141, for low libido; BPC-157, for healing and muscle recovery; NAD+, for cellular repair; and retatrutide, for weight loss. The clerk packed them up in an unlabeled paper bag and sent us on our way.
WIRED sent the vials to Finnrick, an Austin-based startup that offers independent peptide testing. Consumers can request tests for purity and whether samples contain common contaminants, as well as whether they contain the quantity of the substance listed. The company doesn’t have in-house labs but instead acts as a middleman between labs and individuals. In a few weeks’ time, Finnrick told us, we’d know if our bodega peptides were the real deal.
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