--- title: "Someone Ran a Chemical Analysis of Bodega Retatrutide and Dear Lord" description: "A chemical analysis of the contents of a vial of corner-store injectable peptides found substances used in amphetamine manufacturing." date: "2026-10-24" modified: "2026-10-24" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins.md" url: "https://futurism.com/health-medicine/chemical-analysis-bodega-retatrutide-peptides" categories: - "Chemistry" - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "RX and Medicine" - "Science & Energy" --- # Someone Ran a Chemical Analysis of Bodega Retatrutide and Dear Lord ![A photo shows an NYC bodega selling "peptides."]() Like gas station kratom, research-grade peptides have become widely available for consumers at [convenience stores]() across the United States. Yet as one investigation into peptides sourced from a New York City bodega found, ease of access comes with a high price: your health. In new reporting on the peptide trade, [*CBS* took a hard look]() at gray market peptide products available across the US, including a knockoff of Eli Lilly's yet-to-be-released injectable weight loss drug retatrutide, bought from a [corner store]() in Brooklyn. To test what's actually in a bodega vial labeled "retatrutide," the news outlet sent samples to Jason Galpin, a researcher of bioorganic chemistry at the University of Iowa. His analysis? "It does not look anything like a peptide," he told *CBS*. In place of any sort of peptide-like-substance — which should be made up of [short chains of amino acids]() — Galpin discovered the vial was chock full of phenylacetic acid, a filler-compound typically used in [perfume]() and [illicit amphetamine manufacturing](). Worse yet, the vial also contained at least 13 various bacterial colonies, which director of development at the University of Iowa's Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Carl Ross told *CBS* could easily cause a dangerous infection. "As kids, we're all taught to wash out cuts if we get cut," Ross explained. With gray market peptides, however, users are "injecting bacteria under the skin where it could multiply. It's pretty terrifying." Last month, [*Wired* conducted]() a similar analysis, buying "peptides" from a bodega in Brooklyn and sending them to a lab for analysis. As with CBS, it turned out that they weren't peptides at all; instead, they found chemical slurry that technicians couldn't even identify. So there you have it: if your guy at the corner deli tries to slip you some peptides to go with your chopped cheese, just say no. Your body will thank you — in [more ways than one](). **More on peptides:** *[Black Market Retatrutide Linked to Multiple Deaths]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()