Beverages
Abbott Grow & Gain
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 42
Abbott Grow & Gain scores 42 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 9 points Saturated fat 12.5 g / 100 ml: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose): In a small randomized feeding trial, carboxymethylcellulose modestly increased abdominal discomfort and reduced gut microbiota diversity; in mice it promoted low-grade inflammation. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Grow & Gain
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 1.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 0.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Magnesium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Potassium phosphate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Saturated fat 12.5 g / 100 ml minus 9 points
- Energy 101 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
- Fiber 12.5 g / 100 ml plus 4 points
- Protein 87.5 g / 100 ml plus 2 points
100 − 58 = 42
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [17]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 101 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 12.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13.9 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 12.5 g |
| Protein | 87.5 g |
Serving: 1 BOTTLE (240 ml)
Ingredients
- water
- corn maltodextrin
- blend of vegetable oils (canola, corn)
- milk protein concentrate
- soy protein isolate
- natural and artificial flavors
- cellulose gel
- cellulose gum (moderate concern)
- soy lecithin
- carrageenan (moderate concern)
- potassium hydroxide
- salt
- ascorbic acid
- l-carnitine
- lutein
- vitamins and minerals: potassium citrate
- calcium phosphate
- magnesium phosphate
- potassium phosphate
- calcium carbonate
- sodium ascorbate
- choline chloride
- ferrous sulfate
- dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate
- zinc sulfate
- niacinamide
- calcium pantothenate
- manganese sulfate
- thiamine hydrochloride
- pyridoxine hydrochloride
- riboflavin
- vitamin a palmitate
- copper sulfate
- folic acid
- chromium chloride
- biotin
- sodium molybdate
- sodium selenate
- biotin
- phylloquinone
- vitamin d3
Label text, as published
water, corn maltodextrin, blend of vegetable oils (canola, corn), milk protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, less than 0.5% of: natural and artificial flavors, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, soy lecithin, carrageenan, potassium hydroxide, salt, ascorbic acid, l-carnitine, and lutein, vitamins and minerals: potassium citrate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, potassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium ascorbate, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, vitamin a palmitate, copper sulfate, folic acid, chromium chloride, biotin, sodium molybdate, sodium selenate, biotin, phylloquinone, vitamin d3
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Abbott
Sources
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“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org