Are Creatine Gummies Underdosed? How to Read a COA

Not all creatine gummies contain what they claim. That's not a scare tactic — it's a documented fact, backed by independent laboratory testing and at least one high-profile recall in the Australian market.

If you're buying creatine gummies, the most important question isn't the flavour, the price, or the branding. It's this: can the brand prove what's in them?

Here's how to check.

Why underdosing happens

Creatine monohydrate is a commodity ingredient. The difference in cost between a properly dosed product (5g per serve) and an underdosed one (2g per serve with 5g on the label) is significant at scale. For a manufacturer willing to cut corners, there's a clear financial incentive.

Gummies present additional complexity. Compressing an active ingredient into a gummy matrix — along with sweeteners, flavouring, gelling agents, and colouring — introduces manufacturing variables that powder doesn't have. Temperature, humidity, and mixing uniformity all affect the final dose per unit. Done properly, this produces a consistent, accurately dosed product. Done carelessly, it doesn't.

The result is a category with real variation. Some products are well made and accurately dosed. Others aren't.

The 2024 Australian recall

In 2024, an ABC News investigation reported that PUSH Creatine Gummies — a widely distributed Australian brand — were pulled from sale after independent testing found the product contained significantly less creatine than advertised on the label. The story received national coverage and sparked a broader conversation about supplement regulation in Australia.

Australia's supplement industry operates under a framework that requires products to meet label claims, but doesn't mandate independent pre-market testing for every batch. The responsibility falls to the manufacturer. Brands that self-certify, or test infrequently, can ship underdosed products without immediate consequence.

This is why third-party testing matters — and why a published Certificate of Analysis is the only way to verify what you're actually getting.

What is a COA?

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document issued by an independent, accredited laboratory that confirms what a tested sample actually contains. It's the supplement industry's equivalent of proof of work.

A COA is not a marketing document. It's a lab report. A reputable brand commissions testing from a third party — a laboratory with no financial stake in the outcome — and publishes the results for customers to verify.

How to read a creatine gummy COA

When you access a COA for a creatine product, here's what to look for:

1. The testing laboratory

Is the lab independent and accredited? Look for recognised names like Eurofins, NSF International, or Informed Sport. In Australia, HASTA (Human and Supplement Testing Australia) is the national standard for sport supplement testing — HASTA-certified products have been tested to confirm they contain what they claim and are free from prohibited substances.

In-house testing — where the brand tests its own product — is not a COA. It's self-reporting. Ignore it.

2. Creatine monohydrate content per unit

The COA should state the tested amount of creatine monohydrate per gummy (in milligrams) or per serve. Compare this to the label claim. A product claiming 5g per serve (4 gummies) should show approximately 1,250mg of creatine monohydrate per gummy.

Watch for results reported as a percentage of label claim rather than an absolute mg figure. "98% of label claim" sounds precise but obscures the actual dose. Look for the raw number.

3. Batch number

Every COA should correspond to a specific production batch, identified by a batch or lot number. This is critical: a COA from one batch doesn't tell you anything about what's in a different batch.

Brands that publish a single COA from their initial product launch and never update it are not providing ongoing verification — they're using one test to cover an entire product history.

4. Test date

When was the test conducted? A COA from two years ago is not relevant to product on shelves today. Look for recent testing, ideally within the last 12 months, and ideally batch-specific so you can match the COA to the product you're buying.

5. What else is tested

A thorough COA may also test for heavy metals, microbiological contamination, and — for athletes subject to anti-doping rules — prohibited substances. HASTA certification specifically covers the prohibited substance screen, which is relevant for competitive athletes.

Red flags to watch for

• No COA available — if a brand can't produce a COA when asked, the product is unverified. Full stop.
• COA with no batch number — untraceable testing is effectively meaningless.
• In-house or undisclosed lab — self-testing removes the independence that makes a COA credible.
• Single COA covering multiple years of production — one test doesn't verify ongoing manufacturing consistency.
• "Proprietary blend" language on the label — a label that obscures individual ingredient doses makes verification impossible before you even request a COA.

How Cunnies approaches testing

Each production batch of Cunnies Creatine Gummies is independently tested by Eurofins — one of the world's largest accredited testing laboratories — on two separate occasions per batch. The results confirm 5g of creatine monohydrate per serve (4 gummies) in every batch shipped.

This isn't a launch test. It's not periodic. It's every batch, twice, from an independent lab. The COA is available because the whole point of the product is that you can verify what's in it.

The bottom line

Creatine gummies can be underdosed. The way to know whether a specific product is properly dosed is to check the COA — not the marketing copy, not the influencer review, not the label design.

Ask for the COA. Check the lab. Verify the batch number and the mg per gummy. If the brand can't or won't provide that, you have your answer.

Our third-party tested creatine gummies are batch-tested by Eurofins at 5g per serve. The COA is available on each product page. Check it before you buy — that's exactly what it's there for.