Chocolate milks
Fairlife Swiss Chocolate Protein Drink
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 32
Fairlife Swiss Chocolate Protein Drink scores 32 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 12 points Added sugars 6.1 g / 100 ml: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
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Cherry Vanilla Protein Drink Chobani No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 66 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
OWYN Plant Protein Chocolate OWYN No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 65 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Greek Yogurt Protein Drink Strawberries and Cream Chobani · 80 oz No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 66 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Organic Cocoa Cashew Coconut Dairy-free Shake Forager Project No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Ensure Original nutrition shake (Milk Chocolate) Ensure · 237 mL Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 47 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Swiss Chocolate Protein Drink
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Added sugars 6.1 g / 100 ml minus 12 points
- Saturated fat 2.1 g / 100 ml minus 3 points
- Energy 89 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
100 − 68.5 = 31.5 → 32
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 89 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.1 g |
| Trans fat | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 11.4 g |
| Sugars | 10.8 g |
| Added sugars | 6.1 g |
| Fiber | 0.2 g |
| Protein | 3.2 g |
| Salt | 0.2 g |
Serving: 1 bottle (473 ml)
Ingredients
- grade a milk
- nonfat dry milk solids
- sugar (high concern)
- cocoa (processed with alkali)
- salt
- carrageenan (moderate concern)
- natural and artificial flavors
- vitamin d3
Label text, as published
grade a milk, nonfat dry milk solids, sugar, cocoa (processed with alkali), salt, carrageenan, natural and artificial flavors, vitamin d3,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
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
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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
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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
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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
-
“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
-
“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
-
“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