'We're aware of the video': NZ Muscle reacts to bombshell YouTube investigation

Update as of 5:20pm - NZ Muscle has supplied an apology to customers for "labelling and packing issues" across multiple products.

NZ Muscle has responded after an independent investigation made serious allegations against the supplement brand, including claims of misleading customers, relabelling products and engaging in unhygienic manufacturing practices.

ICYMI - NZ Muscle is the subject of an investigation conducted by Kiwi YouTube group Kino House Investigates.

“We’ve pieced together a trail of evidence demonstrating 6 years of what looks [like] illegal behaviour from NZ Muscle - taking your money, and putting YOUR health at risk,” one of the creators, Cam Boot, wrote in an Instagram post.

Following rova’s reporting on the independent investigation, NZ Muscle reached out with a statement, saying the brand "is aware of the video”. 

It adds: “There is no regulatory investigation underway, and no regulator has contacted the company.”

In Kino House Investigates’ video, the group questioned whether the company holds the required Food Control Plan (FCP) or National Programme 3 (NP3) registration, which are required in New Zealand for food and supplement manufacturing.

Boot says they searched publicly available registers using the company name, NZ business number and address, but claims no listing could be found.

In NZ Muscle's response, the brand clarifies: “NZ Muscle holds a current food registration as well as HASTA certifications for the products in question.”

Rova has been supplied with HASTA (Human and Supplement Testing Australia) results as well as a manufacturer's declaration.

The declaration states: “This letter serves to confirm that the whey protein held, handled, and processed by Prosoma Ltd is sourced exclusively from Fonterra (NZ).”

We further confirm that the whey protein supplied by Fonterra is derived from NZ dairy cattle raised in New Zealand. This grass-fed whey protein is the protein used to manufacture the NZ Muscle-branded protein range produced by Prosoma Ltd.

“Fonterra meets the requirements of the New Zealand Grass-Fed standard with data showing cows are on average 96% grass-fed and spend on average over 350 days a year on pasture,” the declaration concludes.

Rova has reviewed three HASTA certificates - similar to those provided in the investigation video - for five NZ Muscle supplements, including: 

• Whey protein (Vanilla) - Batch 20764

• Whey protein (Chocolate) - Batch 20553

• NZ Muscle: Electrolytes (Blue) - Batch 20180

• NZ Muscle Electrolytes (Blue) - Batch 20442

• NZ Muscle Creatine (Unflavoured) - Batch 20260101

According to HASTA, its test “is an independent, laboratory-grade screening process for sports supplements. It checks for substances that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)”.

The results appear to confirm “no prohibited substance detected as per method MS123” for each product.

However, HASTA notes the results apply only to the sample tested and "cannot provide a 100% guarantee that all product is free from contamination, as the batch may not be homogenous".

The creators of the investigation video claim that similar certificates they received “did not show the actual contents of the products.”

Elsewhere in the investigation, the group allege NZ Muscle has been hiding reviews rated lower than three stars, making misleading ‘high protein’ claims, relabelling products from other brands with its own, and engaging in unhygienic packing practices.

NZ Muscle did not address any further allegations made about the brand and said, “We have nothing further to add at this time.”