Meal replacements

Glucerna hunger smart Classic Vanilla

10 fl oz/296 mL

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence

Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
Contains added sugars
Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Contains seed oils
Contains artificial flavors

Why it scores 24

Glucerna hunger smart Classic Vanilla scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

minus 20 points Fructose: An added sugar. Strong
minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated): No NOVA group on file; estimated from 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers. Strong
minus 8 points 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, emulsifier, flavoring, humectant, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better protein shakes

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Classic Vanilla

START100

Ingredients

Fructose minus 20 points

Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points

Strong In a small randomized feeding trial, carboxymethylcellulose modestly increased abdominal discomfort and reduced gut microbiota diversity; in mice it promoted low-grade inflammation. [4][5][6][7]
Carrageenan minus 7.5 points

Strong In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. [8][5][9][10]
Sucralose minus 4 points

Strong In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. [11][12][13][14][2]
Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 4 points

Strong In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, acesulfame-K intake was associated with higher cancer risk; cause and effect is not established. [15][16][14][2]
Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points

Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Canola oil minus 0.5 points

Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [18][19][20][21]
Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points

Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 0.5 points

Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Caseinate minus 0.5 points

Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin) minus 0.5 points

Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Corn oil minus 0.5 points

Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [18][19][20][21]
Glycerin minus 0.5 points

Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Inulin (chicory root fiber) minus 0.5 points

Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points

Strong The label does not disclose which flavoring substances are used. [22][2]
Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points

Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [17]
Magnesium phosphate minus 0.5 points

Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [23]

subtotal−50

Processing

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated) minus 18 points

Strong No NOVA group on file; estimated from 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers. [17]
8 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points

Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, emulsifier, flavoring, humectant, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [17]

subtotal−26

TOTAL 24Poor

100 − 76 = 24

Can’t score above 79. Contains fructose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy	61 kcal
Fat	2.7 g
Saturated fat	0.3 g
Trans fat	0 g
Carbohydrates	4.7 g
Sugars	2 g
Added sugars	2 g
Fiber	1.4 g
Protein	5.1 g
Salt	0.3 g

Serving: 1 portion (296 ml)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.

Label text, as published

WATER, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE; LESS THAN 2% OF: CANOLA OIL, FRUCTOSE, CORN MALTODEXTRIN, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, CORN OIL, GLYCERIN, SHORT-CHAIN FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE GEL, SOY FIBER, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, ASCORBIC ACID, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, SOY LECITHIN, MONOGLYCERIDES, CELLULOSE GUM, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CARRAGEENAN, LIQUID SUCRALOSE CONCENTRATE, SALT, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, FERROUS SULFATE, GELLAN GUM, ZINC SULFATE, NIACINAMIDE, VITAMIN B12, CORN STARCH, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, PYRIDOXINE, MANGANESE SULFATE, RIBOFLAVIN, CITRIC ACID, COPPER SULFATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, FOLIC ACID, CHROMIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, PHYLLOQUINONE, SODIUM SELENATE, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, BIOTIN, AND VITAMIN D..

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy

Not vegan
Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Sources

Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

who.int
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

cdn.realfood.gov
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

efsa.europa.eu
Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

Gastroenterology · March 2022 · Peer-reviewed

“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

Nature · Mar 5, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

“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
Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: prospective cohort study

BMJ · Sep 6, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

“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
Re-evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

European Food Safety Authority · Jan 16, 2018 · Agency assessment

“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
Food additive emulsifiers and the risk of type 2 diabetes: analysis of data from the NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort study

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology · May 2024 · Peer-reviewed

“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

European Food Safety Authority · Apr 26, 2018 · Agency assessment

“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)

International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

monographs.iarc.who.int
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance

Cell · September 2022 · Peer-reviewed

“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”

doi.org
Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B · Aug 18, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”

doi.org
EFSA finds sucralose safe when used as currently authorised; cannot confirm safety of extending its use

European Food Safety Authority · Feb 17, 2026 · Agency assessment

“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”

efsa.europa.eu
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”

who.int
Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study

PLOS Medicine · Mar 24, 2022 · Peer-reviewed

“In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”

doi.org
Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)

European Food Safety Authority · Apr 30, 2025 · Agency assessment

“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”

efsa.europa.eu
Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

“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
Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

doi.org
Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

ecfr.gov
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

“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

Score

Why it scores 24

Better protein shakes

Nutrition per 100 g

Ingredients

Allergens and diets

More meal replacements on GoodSwap

Sources