Many supplement manufacturers have been searching for new ingredients to replace ephedrine since it was banned by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004, and subsequently prohibited in Europe. As a researcher following the supplement industry closely, John Travis, senior research scientist at NSF International, was watching bodybuilding and workout blogs when he learned a new ingredient, 2-aminoisoheptane, had arrived on the scene. Here, John explains how he identifies and examines the various 'new ingredients' to discern their contents and highlights the need for consumer protection and the importance of certification.