Protein powders
Equate Plant Based Protein
380 g
Score
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 78
Equate Plant Based Protein scores 78 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 5 points Erythritol: A 2023 study linked higher blood erythritol to cardiovascular events and found it increased clotting activity; long-term safety studies are warranted. Strong
- minus 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 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.
The Receipt
Plant Based Protein
Ingredients
- Erythritol minus 5 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 5 points
- Carrageenan minus 5 points
- Sucralose minus 2.5 points
- Pea protein minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 0.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Gum arabic (acacia) minus 0.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
100 − 22 = 78
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 395 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 10.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 5.3 g |
| Protein | 55.3 g |
| Salt | 1.6 g |
Serving: 38g
Ingredients
- PEA PROTEIN
- ERYTHRITOL (moderate concern)
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- SUNFLOWER CREAMER (SUNFLOWER OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE)
- GUM ARABIC
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- XANTHAN GUM
- CARRAGEENAN (moderate concern)
- L-LEUCINE
- L-ISOLEUCINE
- L-VALINE
- SEA SALT
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
PEA PROTEIN, ERYTHRITOL, NATURAL FLAVORS, SUNFLOWER OIL, SUNFLOWER CREAMER (SUNFLOWER OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE), GUM ARABIC, CELLULOSE GUM, XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, L-LEUCINE, L-ISOLEUCINE, L-VALINE, SEA SALT, SUCRALOSE.
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Equate
Sources
-
The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk
“Our findings reveal that erythritol is both associated with incident MACE risk and fosters enhanced thrombosis. Studies assessing the long-term safety of erythritol are warranted.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive (plain language summary)
“In all groups of people, both acute and chronic exposure to erythritol is above the newly set ADI.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
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
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.europa.eu