Concern

muscle milk

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

Barcode 05204892

The verdict

muscle milk 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
05204892
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 muscle milk

muscle milk 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, muscle milk 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 muscle milk
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 Isolate
3
Calcium Caseinate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FORMULATION AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Approved
4
Sodium Caseinate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
5
Soluble Corn Fiber
6
Natural And Artificial Flavor
7
Cocoa Processed With Alkae
8
Refined High Oleic Sunflower Oil
9
Cellulose Gel
10
Inulin
Other
Safe
11
Tripotassium Phosphate
12
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
13
Potassium Phosphate
14
Sodium Polyphosphates Cellulose Gum
15
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
16
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
17
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
18
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
19
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
20
Preserves Freshness
21
Sodium Citrate
22
Ferric Pyrophosphate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
23
Calcium Phosphate
24
Vitamin E Acetate
25
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
26
Zinc Oxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
27
Copper Gluconate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SYNERGIST
GRAS
28
Calcium Pantothenate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
29
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
30
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
31
Vitamin B6
32
Vitamin 03
33
Thiamin Mononitrate
34
Vitamin B1
35
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
36
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
37
Potassium Iodide
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, TRACER
GRAS
38
Chromium Chloride
39
Biotin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
40
Cyanocobalamin
41
Vitamin B12
42
Milk Ingredients. Prod

Full Ingredient List

water, milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate, contains less than 2% of sodium caseinate, soluble corn fiber, natural and artificial flavor, cocoa processed with alkae), high oleic sunflower oil, cellulose gel, inulin, tripotassium phosphate, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, sodium polyphosphates cellulose gum, sucralose, carrageenan, acesulfame potassium, salt, ascorbic acid (preserves freshness), sodium citrate, ferric pyrophosphate, calcium phosphate, vitamin e acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), vitamin 03, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin, folic acid, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, biotin, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12). contains milk ingredients. prod

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.