Concern

protein smart

by Glucerna

Scores 65/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 3 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0070074681740

The verdict

protein smart by Glucerna scores 65/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 42 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 3 ingredients are flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.

65/100
Concern safety score
3
flagged ingredients of 42 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
0070074681740
Barcode (UPC/EAN)

Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.

What the Data Says About protein smart

protein smart by Glucerna carries a composite safety score of 65/100, which we classify as "Concern" on our four-tier shelf-label framework.

The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. This score is a transparent derived index we compute from that public data, not an official FDA rating or endorsement; see the Methodology page for the exact weighting.

Our scan identified 3 flagged ingredients in this product, components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, protein smart is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for protein smart
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 65/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score Not available OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Water
2
Milk Protein Concentrate
3
Calcium Caseinate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FORMULATION AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Approved
4
Soluble Corn Fiber
5
Inulin
Other
Safe
6
Fructose
Sweetener
Cut Back
7
Natural And Artificial Flavors
8
Canola Oil
9
Corn Oil
10
Soy Protein Isolate
11
Cellulose Gel
12
Potassium Hydroxide
FORMULATION AID, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
GRAS
13
Cellulose Gum
14
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
15
Carrageenan
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Caution GRAS
16
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
17
Magnesium Phosphate
18
Potassium Citrate
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
19
Sodium Ascorbate
ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
GRAS
20
Potassium Phosphate
21
Sodium Citrate
22
Choline Chloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
23
Ferrous Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
24
Calcium Pantothenate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
25
Alpha-tocopheryl Acetate
26
Natural And Artificial Flavor
27
Zinc Sulfate
MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
28
Manganese Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
29
Copper Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
30
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
31
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
32
Thiamine Hydrochloride
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
33
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
34
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
35
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
36
Potassium Iodide
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, TRACER
GRAS
37
Biotin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
38
Phylloquinone
39
Sodium Molybdate
40
Sodium Selenite
41
Chromium Chloride
42
Vitamin B12

Full Ingredient List

Water, Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Soluble Corn Fiber, Inulin, Fructose, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soy Protein Isolate, Cellulose Gel, Potassium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Acesulfame Potassium, Carrageenan, Sucralose, Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Ascorbate, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Phylloquinone, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Data Sources

Data as of May 2026. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Product data from Open Food Facts; additive safety from the FDA SAFFA inventory and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details. Compiled by PlainFoodSafe

Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Product figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, and CSPI Chemical Cuisine data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.