Faba Bean Protein and G6PD Deficiency: What Your Label Needs

If you sell faba bean protein under your own brand, there is one warning your label and product listings need to carry:

Not suitable for people with G6PD deficiency (favism).

Our faba bean label templates already include it. This page explains why it is there, so you can keep it on your label and answer customer questions with confidence.

What is G6PD deficiency?

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the most common enzyme deficiencies in the world, affecting an estimated 400 million people, and it often goes undiagnosed. In people with the condition, certain triggers can cause red blood cells to break down (haemolytic anaemia), which can be serious.

Why faba beans?

Faba beans (broad beans, fava beans, Vicia faba) naturally contain vicine and convicine. In people with G6PD deficiency these compounds can trigger haemolysis, which is why the condition is often called favism.

Making a protein isolate removes most of the carbohydrate and water-soluble part of the bean, where these compounds sit. But the isolate has not been tested for vicine or convicine, so residual levels are unknown. That is why the product is labelled as not suitable for people with G6PD deficiency rather than described as safe.

What this means for your brand

  • Keep the warning on your label. Our faba tub and pouch templates include a WARNING panel with this wording. Do not remove it when you add your branding.
  • Put it on your listings too. Add the same line to your product page, Amazon listing or marketplace description, so customers see it before they buy.
  • Never describe the product as safe for people with G6PD deficiency, or as free from vicine or convicine.
  • If a customer asks, tell them plainly that it is not suitable for people with G6PD deficiency, and that anyone unsure should speak to their GP.

As the brand owner, you are responsible for what your label and listings say. If you are unsure about any part of your label, have it checked by a food labelling specialist or your local Trading Standards service before you print.

Everything else about faba bean protein

For everyone else, faba bean protein isolate is a strong plant protein: around 87.6g of protein per 100g, free from the 14 UK declarable allergens, and suitable for vegans. Faba bean is a legume, so customers with a diagnosed legume allergy should also speak to their GP before use.

Starting a brand? See How to Start Your Own Supplement Brand in the UK, or book a call if you have questions.

This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.