Peptide Portal: Compliance Audit & Required Changes
Purpose: This document identifies specific compliance issues in the current site and provides actionable changes needed to reduce legal risk.
Audit Date: May 2026
Risk Framework: FDA/FTC compliance based on research in docs/LEGAL-COMPLIANCE-GUIDE.md
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Critical Issues (Must Fix)
- High Priority Issues
- Medium Priority Issues
- What's Already Good
- Detailed Change Specifications
- Implementation Checklist
Executive Summary
Overall Risk Assessment: MEDIUM-HIGH
Your site has some excellent compliance foundations (Terms of Service, peptide guides with proper disclaimers), but has two major tools that pose significant FDA risk:
| Issue | Risk Level | Location | Why It's Problematic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dosing Calculator | 🔴 CRITICAL | /tool/peptide-dosing-calculator | Provides human administration guidance |
| Stack Builder | 🔴 CRITICAL | /tool/peptide-stack-builder | Suggests combinations for therapeutic goals |
| Missing Affiliate Disclosures | 🟠 HIGH | Entire site | 13 vendors have affiliate programs, no disclosure visible |
| Use Case Database | 🟡 MEDIUM | Database use_cases table | Links peptides to medical conditions |
| Minimal Footer Disclaimer | 🟡 MEDIUM | components/layout/footer.tsx | "Not medical advice" is insufficient |
Critical Issues (Must Fix)
1. 🔴 Dosing Calculator (/tool/peptide-dosing-calculator)
Location: app/tool/peptide-dosing-calculator/page.tsx, components/tools/dosing-calculator.tsx
Why This Is Critical:
The FDA determines "intended use" from context, not just disclaimers. This calculator provides:
| Evidence of Human Use Intent | Location in Code |
|---|---|
| "Calculate reconstitution volumes and syringe units for accurate peptide dosing" | Page description |
| "Enter your vial size, water volume, and desired dose" | Page hero |
| Specific peptide presets with "typical dose ranges" | peptide-presets.ts |
| "Your Injection" output section | Calculator results |
| "Draw from your reconstituted vial: X units" | Results display |
| U-100 insulin syringe visual with fill levels | SyringeVisual component |
| "New to Peptides? Here's How It Works" guide | Educational section |
| "Insert your syringe into the vial and pull back to the correct mark" | Instructions |
| Storage guidance: "Refrigerated (4°C): 3-4 weeks" | Reference tables |
FDA Position: Providing injection guidance, syringe units, and reconstitution instructions is direct evidence that products are intended for human administration—regardless of any "research only" disclaimers.
The Peptide Presets Problem (components/tools/peptide-presets.ts):
1// These entries directly imply human dosing:
2{
3 name: "Semaglutide",
4 typicalDoseRange: { min: 250, max: 2500 }, // mcg - human dose
5},
6{
7 name: "BPC-157",
8 typicalDoseRange: { min: 250, max: 500 }, // mcg - human dose
9}Required Action: REMOVE OR COMPLETELY REDESIGN
Options:
- Remove entirely (safest)
- Convert to laboratory concentration calculator only - Remove all references to:
- Syringes, injection, administration
- Dose ranges for specific peptides
- Storage for reconstituted products
- "Your injection" language
- Syringe visualization
2. 🔴 Stack Builder (/tool/peptide-stack-builder)
Location: app/tool/peptide-stack-builder/page.tsx, components/tools/stack-builder.tsx, components/tools/stack-data.ts
Why This Is Critical:
This tool explicitly recommends peptide combinations for therapeutic human outcomes:
| Problematic Element | Example from Code |
|---|---|
| Goals explicitly target human outcomes | "fat-loss", "healing-recovery", "muscle-growth", "anti-aging", "cognitive", "sleep" |
| Goal descriptions make therapeutic claims | "Accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, speed injury recovery" |
| Stacks include human dosing | typicalDose: "100-300 mcg", timing: "Before bed" |
| Benefits describe human therapeutic effects | "Accelerated tendon and ligament repair", "Enhanced fat metabolism" |
| Synergy explanations describe human physiology | "Together, they amplify the natural GH pulse without significantly raising cortisol or prolactin levels" |
| Considerations assume human use | "Best taken on empty stomach, 30+ min before eating" |
| Cycle duration implies human protocols | cycleDuration: "12-16 weeks" |
Stack Data Examples (stack-data.ts):
1// This entire structure assumes human use:
2{
3 id: "healing-wolverine",
4 name: "BPC-157 + TB-500",
5 nickname: "Wolverine Stack",
6 goals: ["healing-recovery"],
7 peptides: [
8 {
9 name: "BPC-157",
10 role: "Tissue Regeneration",
11 timing: "Near injury site or subcutaneous", // INJECTION SITE GUIDANCE
12 typicalDose: "250-500 mcg", // HUMAN DOSING
13 }
14 ],
15 synergy: {
16 benefits: [
17 "Accelerated tendon and ligament repair", // THERAPEUTIC CLAIM
18 "Reduced inflammation and pain", // THERAPEUTIC CLAIM
19 ]
20 }
21}Page Metadata Issues (SEO will index these):
1keywords: [
2 "peptide stacking",
3 "peptide combinations",
4 "CJC-1295 Ipamorelin stack",
5 "BPC-157 TB-500 stack",
6 "GH peptide stack",
7 "healing peptide stack",
8 "peptide protocol", // "Protocol" = human use
9]JSON-LD Schema:
1applicationCategory: "HealthApplication", // Explicitly health-related
2featureList: [
3 "Goal-based stack recommendations", // Therapeutic goals
4 "Dosing calculator integration", // Human dosing
5]Required Action: REMOVE OR COMPLETELY REDESIGN
Options:
- Remove entirely (safest)
- Convert to research compound interaction reference only:
- Remove all goals related to human outcomes
- Remove all dosing information
- Remove timing/administration guidance
- Remove therapeutic benefit claims
- Focus only on mechanistic interactions (e.g., "Both bind to ghrelin receptor")
- Add prominent research-only framing
High Priority Issues
3. 🟠 Missing Affiliate Disclosures
Finding: 13 of 15 vendors have has_affiliate_program: true in the database, but there is no visible affiliate disclosure anywhere on the site.
| Vendor | Affiliate Program |
|---|---|
| Peptide Crafters | ✅ Yes |
| Peptidology | ✅ Yes |
| Aavant Research | ✅ Yes |
| Peptide Partners | ✅ Yes |
| Skye Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| Orbitrex Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| Alchemy Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| NuLife Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| Risynth Bio | ✅ Yes |
| Biotech Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| Peptime | ✅ Yes |
| Eternal Peptides | ✅ Yes |
| Atomik Labz | ✅ Yes |
FTC Requirement: Affiliate relationships must be disclosed "clearly and conspicuously" near the affiliate content, not buried in terms or footer.
Current Footer (components/layout/footer.tsx):
1<p className="text-[12px] text-muted-foreground">
2 Marketplace signals and supplier research for comparison only.
3 Not medical advice.
4</p>Problem: No mention of affiliate relationships or commissions.
Required Changes:
- Add site-wide affiliate disclosure banner on pages with vendor links
- Add disclosure near vendor listings on:
/marketplace/vendors/peptide/[id](Vendors section)/vendor/[id]
Example Disclosure Text:
1"Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase
2through vendor links on this site. This does not affect our vendor
3scoring methodology or editorial independence."4. 🟠 Vendor Linking Without Context
Location: components/peptide/sections/vendors.tsx
Issue: The vendor table makes it easy to compare and select vendors for purchase, which could be seen as facilitating sales of unapproved drugs.
Current Implementation:
- Shows pricing per mg
- COA verification status
- Tier ratings
- Direct click-through to vendor pages
Recommended Changes:
- Add disclaimer above vendor table
- Consider whether direct links to vendor pages are necessary
- Add research-only context framing
Medium Priority Issues
5. 🟡 Use Cases Database Links Peptides to Medical Conditions
Location: Database tables use_cases and peptide_use_cases
Current Data:
1-- use_cases table contains medical conditions:
2Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
3Obesity
4Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
5Alzheimer Disease
6HIV LipodystrophyIssue: Linking peptides to specific disease conditions implies therapeutic use and efficacy.
Recommendation:
- If displaying these, frame as "conditions being researched" not "uses"
- Include evidence quality disclaimers
- Avoid implying efficacy
6. 🟡 Peptide Detail Pages Content
Database Fields That May Imply Human Use:
| Field | Example | Risk |
|---|---|---|
primary_use | "Weight Management", "GH release - IGF-1" | Suggests therapeutic application |
oneliner | "Triple receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon for significant weight loss" | Makes efficacy claim for human outcome |
dosing | ["2mg", "5mg", "10mg"] | Implies standard human doses |
safety | {common, rare, contraindications} | Safety profile assumes human use |
Recommendation: Review and reframe content to focus on:
- Chemical properties
- Research context
- Study citations
- Avoid implying products are for human use
7. 🟡 Footer Disclaimer Is Minimal
Current (components/layout/footer.tsx):
1"Marketplace signals and supplier research for comparison only. Not medical advice."Issue: This is insufficient given the nature of the content.
Recommended Enhancement:
1"For research and educational purposes only. Not intended for human consumption
2or medical use. Not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before using
3any research compounds. We may earn commissions from vendor links."What's Already Good ✅
Strong Compliance Elements
| Element | Location | Why It's Good |
|---|---|---|
| Terms of Service | /app/terms/page.tsx | Comprehensive disclaimers, FDA status acknowledgment, no endorsement language |
| Privacy Policy | /app/privacy/page.tsx | GDPR/CCPA compliant, thorough data handling |
| Peptide Guide Content | peptide_guides table | BPC-157 guide has excellent medical review notes, FDA status, evidence caveats |
| "Information aggregation platform" positioning | Terms Section 2 | Clarifies you don't sell products |
| FDA Status Disclaimers | Terms Section 3.2 | Explicitly notes peptides aren't FDA approved |
| No Direct Sales | Site-wide | You link to vendors but don't sell |
| Research Papers Section | /research | Academic citations add credibility |
BPC-157 Guide Example (Good Pattern)
The BPC-157 guide in the database follows best practices:
- "Medical review note: This article is for educational purposes only"
- "BPC-157 is not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use"
- "Products sold online may carry quality, safety, and regulatory risks"
- Evidence tables clearly show "Preclinical" vs "Human" evidence
- Sources cited from FDA, USADA, WADA
Recommendation: Apply this same rigorous standard to all peptide content.
Detailed Change Specifications
Change 1: Dosing Calculator Remediation
Option A: Remove Entirely (Recommended)
1# Delete the following files:
2rm app/tool/peptide-dosing-calculator/page.tsx
3rm components/tools/dosing-calculator.tsx
4rm components/tools/peptide-presets.ts
5rm components/tools/syringe-visual.tsx
6
7# Remove from any navigation menus
8# Remove /tool route if emptyOption B: Convert to Lab Concentration Calculator
If you keep this tool, you must:
- Rename: "Laboratory Concentration Calculator"
- Remove all human-use language:
- "Your Injection" → "Solution Properties"
- "Desired dose" → "Target concentration"
- "Syringe units" → Remove entirely
- "Draw X units" → Remove entirely
- All insulin syringe references → Remove
- Remove peptide presets with dose ranges
- Remove syringe visualization
- Remove storage guidance
- Add prominent disclaimer: "For laboratory calculations only. Not for human or veterinary use."
Change 2: Stack Builder Remediation
Option A: Remove Entirely (Recommended)
1# Delete the following files:
2rm app/tool/peptide-stack-builder/page.tsx
3rm components/tools/stack-builder.tsx
4rm components/tools/stack-data.ts
5rm components/tools/goal-selector.tsx
6rm components/tools/stack-card.tsx
7rm components/tools/danger-warning.tsxOption B: Convert to Research Interaction Reference
If you keep this tool, you must completely redesign:
- Remove all goals: No "fat-loss", "healing", "muscle-growth", etc.
- Remove all dosing information
- Remove timing/administration guidance
- Remove therapeutic benefits claims
- Focus only on:
- Receptor binding profiles
- Known pharmacological interactions
- Research citations
- Add prominent framing: "Research compound interaction reference for laboratory planning only"
Change 3: Add Affiliate Disclosures
Create new component components/shared/affiliate-disclosure.tsx:
1export function AffiliateDisclosure({ variant = "inline" }: { variant?: "inline" | "banner" }) {
2 if (variant === "banner") {
3 return (
4 <div className="bg-muted/50 border-b border-border px-4 py-2 text-center">
5 <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
6 <strong>Affiliate Disclosure:</strong> We may earn commissions from purchases
7 made through vendor links. This does not affect our ratings or recommendations.
8 </p>
9 </div>
10 )
11 }
12
13 return (
14 <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground italic">
15 We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links.
16 </p>
17 )
18}Add to these pages:
app/marketplace/page.tsx- Banner at topapp/vendors/page.tsx- Banner at topcomponents/peptide/sections/vendors.tsx- Inline above tablecomponents/vendor/vendor-content.tsx- Banner at top
Change 4: Enhanced Footer
Update components/layout/footer.tsx:
1<p className="text-pretty text-[12px] leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
2 For research and educational purposes only.{" "}
3 <span className="font-medium">Not intended for human consumption.</span>{" "}
4 Not medical advice. We may earn commissions from vendor links.
5</p>Change 5: Review Database Content
Review and update these fields in the peptides table:
| Field | Current Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
primary_use | Medium | Rename to research_focus or remove |
oneliner | Medium | Reframe as research context, not benefits |
dosing | High | Remove or rename to common_research_concentrations |
safety | Medium | Rename to reported_observations or frame as research findings |
Implementation Checklist
Immediate (This Week)
- Remove Dosing Calculator OR implement Option B changes
- Remove Stack Builder OR implement Option B changes
- Add affiliate disclosure component
- Update footer disclaimer
- Add disclosure banners to marketplace/vendor pages
Short-Term (This Month)
- Review all peptide guide content - ensure all follow BPC-157 pattern
- Audit peptide database fields -
primary_use,oneliner,dosing,safety - Review blog posts for therapeutic claims
- Add prominent site-wide research disclaimer to header or banner
Medium-Term (Next Quarter)
- Legal review - Have FDA/FTC attorney review the site
- Vendor due diligence - Document compliance status of linked vendors
- Consider removing vendors that have received FDA warning letters
- Implement content review process for new peptide entries
Summary of Required Actions
| Priority | Action | Files Affected | Estimated Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Critical | Remove/redesign Dosing Calculator | 4 files | 1-2 hours |
| 🔴 Critical | Remove/redesign Stack Builder | 6 files | 1-2 hours |
| 🟠 High | Add affiliate disclosures | 5+ files | 2-3 hours |
| 🟠 High | Update footer disclaimer | 1 file | 15 min |
| 🟡 Medium | Review peptide database content | Database | 4-8 hours |
| 🟡 Medium | Audit all peptide guides | Content review | 8+ hours |
Final Notes
The bottom line: Your site has good legal foundations (Terms, Privacy, some guide content), but the Dosing Calculator and Stack Builder are significant compliance risks that essentially instruct users how to prepare and use peptides for human consumption. The FDA has explicitly stated that such tools constitute evidence of "intended use" for human administration, regardless of any "research only" disclaimers.
Recommended immediate action: Remove both tools and add proper affiliate disclosures. These changes will substantially reduce your regulatory risk profile while maintaining the valuable information and comparison functionality of your site.
This audit is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult with a licensed attorney specializing in FDA/FTC law before making final compliance decisions.