Protein shakes
Premier Protein
Score
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 79
Premier Protein scores 79 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 5 points Sucralose: 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. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Premier Protein
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 5 points
- Carrageenan minus 5 points
- Sucralose minus 5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 2.5 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Caseinate minus 0.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 0.5 points
- Sodium hexametaphosphate minus 0.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
- Potassium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Magnesium phosphate minus 0.5 points
100 − 21.5 = 78.5 → 79
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
Serving: 32.0g
Ingredients
- water
- milk protein concentrate
- calcium caseinate
- sunflower oil
- sodium hexametaphosphate
- natural and artificial flavors
- cellulose gel
- cellulose gum (moderate concern)
- dipotassium phosphate
- carrageenan (moderate concern)
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- acesulfame potassium (moderate concern)
- vitamin and mineral blend
- magnesium phosphate
- vitamin A palmitate
- vitamin D3
- vitamin E acetate
- niacinamide
- zinc oxide
- calcium pantothenate
- pyridoxine hydrochloride
- riboflavin
- thiamine mononitrate
- folic acid
- biotin
- sodium ascorbate
- sodium molybdate
- sodium selenite
- copper gluconate
- manganese sulfate
- ferrous sulfate
- potassium iodide
Label text, as published
water, milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, sunflower oil, sodium hexametaphosphate, natural and artificial flavors, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, dipotassium phosphate, carrageenan, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, vitamin and mineral blend, magnesium phosphate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3, vitamin E acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, sodium ascorbate, sodium molybdate, sodium selenite, copper gluconate, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, potassium iodide
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Premier Protein
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
-
“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
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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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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
-
“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
-
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
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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