Chocolate milks
fairlife Nutrition Plan Shake
4080 mL
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 31
fairlife Nutrition Plan Shake scores 31 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better protein shakes
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Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake French Vanilla Ensure No non-nutritive sweeteners · No added sugars Score 78 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Max Protein nutrition shake Ensure · 330 mL Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 66 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Protein shake Pioneer protein shake · 11 oz No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 72 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Organic Green Berry meal shake Urban Remedy No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 77 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Plant Protein Shake Orgain · 11 fl oz No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 67 out of 100 , 36 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
fairlife Nutrition Plan Shake
Ingredients
- Lactose minus 20 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 4 points
- Sucralose minus 4 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
- Stevia (steviol glycosides) minus 0.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Energy 44 kcal / 100 ml minus 3 points
- Protein 8.8 g / 100 ml plus 2 points
100 − 69.5 = 30.5 → 31
Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 44 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.9 g |
| Sugars | 0.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 8.8 g |
| Salt | 0.2 g |
Serving: 1 Bottle (340 mL)
Ingredients
- FILTERED LOWFAT GRADE A MILK
- ALKALIZED COCOA
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CELLULOSE GEL
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- SALT
- CARRAGEENAN (moderate concern)
- LACTOSE ENZYME (high concern)
- MONK JUICE CONCENTRATE (not recognized)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- STEVIA LEAF EXTRACT
- MALTODEXTRIN
- VITAMIN A (PALMITATE)
- VITAMIN D3
Label text, as published
FILTERED LOWFAT GRADE A MILK, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF ALKALIZED COCOA, NATURAL FLAVORS, CELLULOSE GEL, CELLULOSE GUM, SALT, CARRAGEENAN, LACTOSE ENZYME, MONK JUICE CONCENTRATE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, SUCRALOSE, STEVIA LEAF EXTRACT, MALTODEXTRIN, VITAMIN A (PALMITATE), VITAMIN D3.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More chocolate milks on GoodSwap
-
Chocolate Reduced Fat Ultra-filtered Milk Fairlife · 52 fl oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
Chocolate Reduced Fat Ultra-Filtered Milk Fairlife · 14 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 32 out of 100 Poor -
Ovaltine Rich Chocolate Flavor Ovaltine · 12 oz High in sugarContains added sugarsNo additives Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Chocolate Lowfat Milk Nestlé Nesquik · 14 fl oz (414 mL) Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 40 out of 100 Okay -
Classic Chocolate High Protein Milk Shake Slate · 11 fl oz/325 mL Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 55 out of 100 Okay -
Chocolate Organic Lowfat Milk Horizon Organic · 8 fl oz (237 mL) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsCertified organic Score 61 out of 100 Good
More from Fairlife
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
-
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
-
“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
-
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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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
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“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