Sources

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated April 22, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA says BPC-157 may pose immunogenicity and peptide impurity risks, and lists BPC-157 and TB-500 as previously on its safety-risk list after their nominations were withdrawn.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated September 1, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026.

FDA says firms illegally sold unapproved GLP-1 drugs, including retatrutide, falsely labeled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption."

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published March 31, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA found that the company's retatrutide and tirzepatide, labeled "Research Use Only," were drugs for human use, citing its own site claims about reducing body weight.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Published October 24, 2025. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

MHRA seized more than 2,000 unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide pens at an illicit Northampton production facility and notes retatrutide has not been approved for UK use.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published August 24, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA says the company's "research use only" products, including one sold as "GLP-3 Reta," are drugs for human use, and that selling bacteriostatic water provides the means to prepare an injectable drug.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Published August 24, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA says the company marketed bacteriostatic water alongside a "peptide guide" and "peptide calculator," which together provide the means to prepare an injectable drug.

Health Canada. Published April 9, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Health Canada lists BPC-157, TB-500 and retatrutide among seized unauthorized injectable peptides and says "research use only" labels do not make them legal.

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Published July 20, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026.

TGA warns that unapproved peptides may contain the wrong ingredients, be contaminated or fail sterility standards, and says labeling a blank vial counts as manufacture.

Annals of Pharmacotherapy (SAGE Publications). Published September 17, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

38 sites sold semaglutide or tirzepatide "for research purposes"; 4 asked buyers to check a researcher box, none required proof of age, 37 said "not for human consumption," and 17 served targeted ads.

Preprints.org (MDPI). Published April 24, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

A preprint of 6,441 Finnrick-tested samples across 14 peptides finds 41.6% to 71.1% failed basic quality criteria, and 15% of 243 endotoxin-tested samples had measurable endotoxin.

Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR Publications). Published November 7, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Of 317 online pharmacy links, 134 led to 59 illegal sites; test vials were 7.7% to 14.37% pure, held 28.56% to 38.69% more semaglutide than labeled, and all had endotoxin.

Springer Nature (Pharmaceutical Research). Published March 22, 2023. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

The authors write that peptide identity is typically confirmed with several orthogonal methods, including HPLC retention time, NMR, and mass spectrometry, separate from impurity and content tests.

JAMA Network Open (American Medical Association). Published August 2, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Only 3 of 6 semaglutide orders arrived, scam sellers sought $650 to $1,200 more, and vials tested 7% to 14% pure vs 99% claimed with 29% to 39% extra drug; one had elevated endotoxin (8.95 EU/mg).

Eli Lilly and Company. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lilly warns that illicit retatrutide, often sold under a "research use only" pretext, may contain harmful contaminants, impurities, or the wrong ingredients entirely.

Eli Lilly and Company. Published August 12, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lilly says no retatrutide medicine is approved anywhere; it filed six new lawsuits, referred 200+ parties to authorities, and reported 14,000+ sites, ads, posts and listings in 100+ countries.

Eli Lilly and Company via PR Newswire. Published July 23, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lilly reports two more successful Phase 3 retatrutide obesity trials and says it plans to submit a Biologics License Application to FDA in Q1 2027.

Eli Lilly and Company. Published July 23, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lilly states that no regulatory agency has approved retatrutide and that it is legally available only through Lilly's clinical trials.

Office of the Federal Register (National Archives and Records Administration). Updated September 9, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA rules tie intended use to the objective intent of those who label a product, which labeling claims, advertising matter, or oral or written statements can show.

Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA's drug GMP rule requires at least one identity test on each component and lets a maker rely on a supplier's report only if it runs a specific identity test and validates the supplier's results.

United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

The 2008 harmonized USP <71> text says its tests are not by themselves designed to ensure a batch is sterile, a pass covers only the sample examined, and incubation lasts at least 14 days.

United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Published November 23, 2011. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

USP says the Pharmacopeial Discussion Group approved the <85> Bacterial Endotoxins Test as a harmonized standard, official in USP since December 1, 2012.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

UKAS warns of counterfeit certificates and organizations falsely claiming UKAS accreditation for management systems certification, and names the ones it knows about.

ANSI National Accreditation Board. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ANAB's directory searches accredited organizations by keyword, company, or certificate number and filters by status, including active, suspended, and withdrawn.

International Accreditation Service, Inc.. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

IAS names organizations that misuse its accreditation mark, including one issuing IAS-marked certificates without ever being accredited, and asks users to check its directory.

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

A2LA says a scope of accreditation lists the specific tests a lab was found competent to perform, and capabilities not listed on the scope are not covered by its accreditation.

International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ILAC's search finds accreditation bodies that signed the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement, by economy and scope, and links to some of their online directories.

International Organization for Standardization. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ISO says ISO/IEC 17025 enables laboratories to show they operate competently and generate valid results, and the current edition is ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated March 18, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FDA's March 2026 revised guidance says USP <85>, USP <161>, and AAMI ST72 recommend testing components and finished products for pyrogens and endotoxins.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ICH Q7 says a COA should list product name, batch, release and expiry or retest dates, each test's limits and numerical results, a dated quality signature, and the original maker's contact details.

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

A2LA's directory searches accredited organizations by name, certificate number, scope, or test method and links to suspended, withdrawn, and inactive certificates and false accreditation claims.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

UKAS lets anyone browse its directory of accredited organizations and search by type, name, region, or category.

International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. Published October 6, 1999. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ICH Q6A says identification solely by a single chromatographic retention time is not specific, and the guideline does not adequately cover higher molecular weight peptides.

National Association of Secretaries of State. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

NASS links to each state and territory's business registration pages and corporate name databases through one drop-down menu.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Published August 2, 2021. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ICANN says it built its lookup tool as a free public service that shows public registration data, such as the date a domain name was registered.

Federal Trade Commission. Published August 14, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

The FTC's final rule, approved 5-0, bans fake reviews such as AI-generated ones, undisclosed insider reviews, and buying or selling fake social media followers or views.

Federal Trade Commission. Updated June 29, 2023. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC says an influencer's personal discount code probably conveys a relationship with the brand, and shoppers may not understand that "affiliate link" means the poster gets paid.

Federal Trade Commission. Published November 25, 2025. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC warns that if a seller says you can only pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cryptocurrency, it's probably a scam.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ICANN Lookup shows the current registration data for a domain name, pulled in real time from registries and registrars through RDAP.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Published January 27, 2025. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

ICANN says RDAP became the definitive source for generic top-level domain registration data on January 28, 2025, in place of the retired WHOIS services.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

The FBI runs the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which it calls the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime.

Federal Trade Commission. Updated May 1, 2023. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC says to search a company's name plus "complaint" or "scam," warns that some reviews are fake, and says never to pay sellers who insist on gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or crypto.

OpenCorporates. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

OpenCorporates says its company data comes direct from official primary sources across 140+ jurisdictions.

Federal Trade Commission. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

The FTC's ReportFraud.ftc.gov takes reports of fraud, scams, and bad business practices and shares them with over 2,000 law enforcers, but it does not resolve individual reports.

Federal Trade Commission. Published November 8, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC says its Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials took effect October 21, 2024, and lets courts impose civil penalties for knowing violations.

Federal Trade Commission. Updated May 23, 2022. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC says a Fair Credit Billing Act dispute letter must reach the card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error, and federal law caps unauthorized charges at $50.

Federal Trade Commission. Updated June 30, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

FTC says cryptocurrency payments lack the legal protections of credit and debit cards, so money is hard to get back, and it takes scam reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Finnrick Analytics. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Finnrick says it sources samples from vendors and sends them to third-party labs, requests HPLC as the primary method, and does not require endotoxin testing.

Finnrick Analytics. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Finnrick lists 3,694 retatrutide tests from 256 vendors, dated Dec 17, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026; its public test history table shows only 200 of them.

The Conversation. Published May 6, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

McMaster professor Stuart Phillips writes that the "third-party" labs issuing peptide purity certificates are often the vendors themselves, linking to a CBC Radio explainer.

Finnrick Analytics. Published February 6, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Of 140 Finnrick endotoxin tests, nearly 63% found none, 29% found traces below the limit of quantification, and nearly 8% found amounts above that limit.

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Updated October 28, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Explains how 9-1-1 calls work in Canada and gives tips for making an emergency call, such as telling the operator the nature and location of the emergency.

Health Canada. Updated June 15, 2022. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Describes Health Canada's side effect monitoring program, says reports can be made online, by phone, fax, or mail, and lists its phone line, 1-866-234-2345.

Canadian Association for Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicology. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lists Canada's five regional poison centers, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the phone numbers to call from each province and territory.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. Updated May 21, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lists the address and phone number of FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations and links to the FDA form for telling law enforcement about an issue.

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Updated March 14, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Explains the risks of counterfeit medicines and lists ways to report a suspected fake, including an online form and the free-call line 1800 020 653.

National 911 Program, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Confirms 911 as the number to call immediately in an emergency and warns that the website itself cannot provide emergency help.

Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Gives the toll-free Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, available 24/7, which connects callers to their local poison center.

Healthdirect Australia. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Gives the Poisons Information Centre number, 13 11 26, which you can call 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia, and says when to call triple zero (000).

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Updated July 12, 2024. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Online form to report counterfeit products or someone supplying an unapproved therapeutic product; reporters can use a pseudonym or stay anonymous.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated March 14, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026.

Online form to report harm, product quality or mislabeling issues, or insider information about an FDA-regulated product; it takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Health Canada. Updated September 8, 2023. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Says anyone can report a side effect to a health or cannabis product and lets the reader pick a product type to start a report.

Therapeutic Goods Administration. Updated September 2, 2026. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lets consumers report a medicine or vaccine side effect online through the Adverse Event Management System and links to the form for reporting fake medicines.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Updated September 26, 2025. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lets consumers report a serious reaction or product quality problem to MedWatch online, on Form FDA 3500B, or by calling 1-888-INFO-FDA and pressing 2.

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Says to call Triple Zero (000) if someone is seriously injured, in danger, or needs urgent help, and notes that the calls are free.

National Capital Poison Center. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Lets a reader enter details of a possible poisoning and get a free, confidential recommendation online; it sends serious cases to 911 or a poison center.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Explains that the public and health professionals can report side effects, defective products, and falsified or fake healthcare products to the Yellow Card scheme.

NHS England. Updated November 14, 2022. Checked September 10, 2026. Archived copy.

Explains when to use 111 online or call 111 for urgent medical help, and says to call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency.