Ensure max protein nutrition shake

by Abbott

65
Concern
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 3 flagged ingredients

Ensure max protein nutrition shake by Abbott receives a safety score of 65/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 3 ingredients that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0070074684628
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 carton (330 ml)

What the Data Says About

Ensure max protein nutrition shake by Abbott 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.

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, Ensure max protein nutrition shake 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 Ensure max protein nutrition shake
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
Refined High Oleic Sunflower Oil
6
Short-chain Fructooligosaccharides
7
Natural And Artificial Flavor
8
Cellulose Gel
9
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
10
Cellulose Gum
11
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
12
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
13
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
14
Magnesium Phosphate
15
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
16
Potassium Chloride
ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
17
Potassium Phosphate
18
Sodium Phosphate
19
Choline Chloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
20
Ascorbic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
21
Sodium Hydroxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FUMIGANT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
GRAS
22
Ferrous Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
23
Zinc Sulfate
MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
24
Dl-alpha-tocopherol Acetate
25
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
26
Calcium Pantothenate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
27
Manganese Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
28
Copper Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
29
Thiamine Hydrochloride
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
30
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
31
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
32
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
33
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
34
Chromium Chloride
35
Phylloquinone
36
Sodium Molybdate
37
Potassium Iodide
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, TRACER
GRAS
38
Sodium Selenate
39
Vitamin D3
40
Biotin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
41
Vitamin B12

Full Ingredient List

Water, Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Soluble Corn Fiber, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Cellulose Gel, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Magnesium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, dl-Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Phylloquinone, Sodium Molybdate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Vitamin D3, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. 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.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial