Dairy drinks
Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake
330 mL
Score
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 66
Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake scores 66 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 7.5 points Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K): In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, acesulfame-K intake was associated with higher cancer risk; cause and effect is not established. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better protein shakes
-
Protein Shake Chocolate Oak Farms · half gallon/1.89 L No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 100 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Marine Collagen Wild-caught Orgain No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 100 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Ensure Original nutrition shake (Milk Chocolate) Ensure · 237 mL No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 13 points higher -
Eden Shake Sesame & Sea Vegetable Seasoning Eden No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 13 points higher -
Organic Cocoa Cashew Coconut Dairy-free Shake Forager Project No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 13 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Max Protein nutrition shake
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 7.5 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 4 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Caseinate minus 1.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Inulin (chicory root fiber) minus 0.5 points
- Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin) minus 0.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Energy 45 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
- Protein 9.1 g / 100 ml plus 2 points
100 − 34 = 66
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 45 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.8 g |
| Sugars | 0.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0.6 g |
| Protein | 9.1 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 1 carton (330 ml)
Ingredients
- WATER
- MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- CALCIUM CASEINATE
- VITAMINS AND MINERALS++
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR
- INULIN
- SOLUBLE CORN FIBER
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- CELLULOSE GEL
- SALT
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
- CARRAGEENAN (moderate concern)
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
WATER, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE; LESS THAN 0.5% OF: VITAMINS AND MINERALS++, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, INULIN, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, SUNFLOWER OIL, CELLULOSE GEL, SALT, CELLULOSE GUM, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, CARRAGEENAN, AND SUCRALOSE.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More dairy drinks on GoodSwap
More from Ensure
-
Original nutrition shake Ensure · 237 mL Score 24 out of 100 Poor -
Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake MILK CHOCOLATE Ensure · 330 mL Score 78 out of 100 Good -
Ensure Original nutrition shake Ensure · 8 fl oz/237 mL Score 68 out of 100 Good -
Ensure High Protein nutrition shake Ensure Score 69 out of 100 Good
Sources
-
“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
-
Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
“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)
“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
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“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
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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
-
“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
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“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
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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
-
“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