Banned and restricted ingredient screening: software that flags prohibited substances

Beyond levels and forms, some substances are simply not allowed — prohibited in food and supplements, restricted to certain uses, or banned in sport. A single prohibited ingredient makes a product illegal; a single substance on the sport banned list makes a product unsellable to athletes and a liability if an athlete fails a test because of it. Screening a formula against these lists by hand is the kind of check that gets skipped until it's a crisis. Software that screens automatically catches the problem as you build. Here's the capability.

Some substances are simply prohibited

Distinct from a nutrient that's allowed up to a limit, some substances are outright prohibited or tightly restricted — banned ingredients, substances allowed only in specific contexts, materials restricted for safety. A formula containing one isn't over a limit; it's not permitted at all. Screening for these is a go/no-go check against prohibition lists, separate from the level and form checks.

The sport-banned dimension

For sports nutrition especially, there's a further list: substances prohibited in sport, such as those on the WADA prohibited list. A supplement marketed to athletes that contains — or is contaminated with — a banned substance can cause an athlete to fail a doping test, with serious consequences for them and the brand. Screening a formula's ingredients against the sport-prohibited list is essential for any product aimed at athletes, and it's a specialized check that general formulation rarely covers.

Screened as data, against the lists

The capability is to hold each ingredient's status against the relevant prohibition and restriction lists as data, so adding an ingredient screens it automatically — prohibited, restricted, or sport-banned flagged at selection. Instead of remembering to cross-check every ingredient against multiple lists, the screen happens because the status travels with the ingredient. A prohibited substance is caught as you build, not after.

Restricted, not just banned

Many substances aren't outright banned but restricted — allowed only in certain product types, below certain levels, or with conditions. Software that holds the restriction, not just a banned flag, checks whether your specific use is within what's permitted, catching the case where a substance is fine in general but not in your product or at your level. The screen handles the nuanced middle, not just the clear prohibitions.

This is general information, not regulatory or legal advice. Prohibited and restricted lists differ by market and context and change over time, and sport-prohibited status is the athlete's responsibility; confirm current rules with the relevant authority or a qualified expert before relying on them.

Where Lemoniq fits

Lemoniq holds each ingredient's prohibited and restricted status as data and screens a formula against the relevant lists as you build it — flagging a prohibited substance, a restricted use beyond what's permitted, or a sport-banned ingredient at selection, before a product is built on something it can't legally or safely use.

The takeaway

Some substances are prohibited, restricted, or banned in sport, and a single one sinks a product — a go/no-go screen separate from level and form checks, too important to leave to memory. Software that holds each ingredient's status and screens against the lists as you build catches the prohibited substance early. That's the screening capability that keeps a product legal and sport-safe.

Lemoniq screens your formula against prohibited, restricted, and sport-banned lists as you build it. See how it works