The Mr. Green bodega in Brooklyn is selling peptides for weight loss, recovery and more, but WIRED's tests reveal they may be nothing more than an unlabeled mix of mystery substances. The vials, priced at $376.20, turned out to be mislabeled or corrupted, leaving buyers with no guarantees and potential risks. The surge in peptide popularity, driven by health enthusiasts and celebrities, has led to a booming but unregulated market. With businesses using the same shoddy suppliers, the risk of fraud or contamination is high.

Despite the hype, many peptides are not legally sold for human consumption in the US, and evidence of their benefits is lacking. While some substances like GLP-1s and insulin are pharmaceutical drugs, others have not undergone the typical regulatory approval process. The lack of proper testing and storage is a major issue, with businesses often relying on questionable suppliers to ensure the quality of their products.

Marco Krause, CEO of the lab that performed the tests, says the samples contained low levels of heavy metals and endotoxins, but no active peptide ingredients. The company, Finnrick, has seen a rise in similar results as more individuals and businesses enter the peptide market. The lack of regulation means that consumers face significant risks, and the FDA is calling for a shutdown of these black markets.

Jeff Colhoun, founder of Peptide Critic, found similar results when testing peptides from another vendor. He warns that buyers are at a high risk level when sellers skip meaningful batch testing. The case of INDR Labs, which cut off public access to its certificates of analysis, highlights the lack of transparency in the industry. While the market is booming, the quality and safety of the products are questionable.