On August 1, 2025, the National Health Commission publicly solicited opinions on 30 national food safety standards including the National Food Safety Standard General Principles for Sports Nutrition Food (GB 24154, hereinafter referred to as the draft), which is the second public solicitation of opinions since the current GB 24154 was released in 2015, and the last solicitation was in August 2021. This draft for comments made significant revisions compared to the current standards in terms of applicable characteristics, indicator values, added ingredients and the daily usage/content, labeling, determination of creatine, etc. for product classification.

In order to gain a more detailed understanding of the changes in the draft, Antion compared the draft with GB 24154-2015 (hereinafter referred to as the "current standard"), analyzed and interpreted its changes and trends for your reference.

PART.1 Removed the basis for product classification and added applicable project features

The draft removed the basis for product classification, namely "classification by characteristic nutrients" and "classification by exercise projects", but still retains six categories classified according to the above basis, namely energy supplementation, energy control, protein supplementation, speed and strength, endurance and post-exercise recovery. The post-exercise recovery category is further divided into two subcategories: physical fitness recovery and bone and joint recovery.

The speed and strength category, endurance category and post-exercise recovery category all added characteristics of applicable sports disciplines, making it easier for enterprises to accurately locate product categories based on the sports project characteristics and product features of the target audience. Among them, the category of speed and strength added "disciplines mainly powered by phosphocreatine and/or glycolysis (characterized by high intensity and short time)"; The endurance category added "disciplines mainly powered by aerobic oxidation of sugars and fat (characterized by low to medium intensity and long duration)"; On the basis of current standards, the category of post-exercise recovery emphasizes the need for individuals who have undergone "long-term, repeated" exercise and those who require recovery "due to physical decline or joint wear and tear". At the same time, sports such as long jump, Sanda, marathon, rowing, etc. will be added to the corresponding product categories.

PART.2 Adjusted indicator items and values for three product categories

Both the draft for comments and the current standards only specify the indicator items and values for energy supplementation, energy control and protein supplementation. The draft specified the indicator requirements for the three types of products (solid, semi-solid, liquid) according to their product forms respectively, to avoid the situation where the current standards cannot meet the indicator requirements in production due to the lack of differentiation between semi-solid and liquid.

For energy supplementation products, suggestions for carbohydrate sources include adding two or more monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides as carbohydrate sources; The energy substitution subcategory in energy control products has increased the requirement for "the proportion of energy provided by carbohydrates to the total energy of the product", and the indicator values of energy, protein, fat and other items have been adjusted upwards.

PART.3 Expanded the number of ingredients added to various products, including multiple amino acids

Both the draft and the current standards stipulate the mandatory and recommended ingredients for speed and strength, endurance, and post exercise recovery products. The draft divides post-exercise recovery products into two subcategories: physical fitness recovery and bone and joint recovery, and specifies the mandatory and recommended ingredients for each subcategory. From the composition of subcategories, the current standard for post exercise recovery belongs to the physical recovery subcategory under it in the draft for comments.

The draft increased the number of recommended added ingredients, mainly amino acid components, including leucine, isoleucine, valine, citrulline, arginine, phenylalanine and other types. At the same time, daily usage and reference test methods have been specified for all necessary and suggested added ingredients, and the usage limits of peptides, leucine, isoleucine, valine and other existing ingredients in the current standards have been adjusted.

The draft made adjustments to the categories, contents and reference test methods of optional nutrients to sports nutrition food, including vitamin K2, calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, and d-ribose. Additionally, the contents of vitamin A and taurine were adjusted.

PART.4 Limits for pollutants, mycotoxins, and microorganisms aligns with general standards

The draft modified the limit requirements for pollutants, mycotoxins, and microorganisms to align with general standards. In addition to microbial limits, the indicator items and limit values specified in the current standards should be consistent with general standards. The alignment ensures the unity and consistency of related standards, facilitating the implementation of standards by production enterprises. The draft also added microbiological limit requirements for products produced under commercial aseptic conditions, specifying that "they should meet commercial aseptic requirements", and added requirements for total plate count and coliforms for products produced under non-aseptic conditions.

PART.5 Label limited category quantity

The draft clearly stipulated that "each product should be labeled with only one category" to avoid confusion in consumer selection and use caused by multiple category labeling. At the same time, labeling requirements for energy substitute products have been added, stating that "long-term consumption should be done under the advice of a doctor or nutritionist".

PART.6 Added the determination method for creatine

The draft clarified that creatine monohydrate and creatine use the same detection method but different calculation formulas. Detailed sample preparation methods are specified according to sample types (protein-based and non-protein-based), and the content calculation method of creatine monohydrate has been revised to include that of creatine, providing clear testing guidance for manufacturers and testing institutions.

The draft also clarified that "athletes may consume such products under the guidance of professionals", which increases the possibility of expanding the scope of application of sports nutrition food.

Antion hopes that this interpretation of the new standard will help food enterprises and industry professionals better grasp the content of the new standards, understand changes in standards and update product labels promptly. At the same time, Antion can provide consulting services such as standard and regulatory consultation and food label review. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (010-51301566).

Source: Antion

Note: This article is compiled by Antion. Please indicate the source for reprint.