Protein Shake

by MUSCLE MILK

65
Concern
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 3 flagged ingredients

Protein Shake by MUSCLE MILK 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
0876063007160
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 bottle (414 ml)

What the Data Says About

Protein Shake by 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.

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 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 Protein 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 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
Refined High Oleic Sunflower Oil
8
Inulin
Other
Safe
9
Cellulose Gel
10
Tripotassium Phosphate
11
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
12
Potassium Phosphate
13
Sodium Polyphosphates
14
Cellulose Gum
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
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
17
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
18
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
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
Sodium Citrate
21
Ferric Orthophosphate
22
Calcium Phosphate
23
Vitamin E Acetate
24
Beta Carotene
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
Thiamin Mononitrate
32
Biotin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
33
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
34
Potassium Iodide
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, TRACER
GRAS
35
Chromium Chloride
36
Cyanocobalamin

Full Ingredient List

water, milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, soluble corn fiber, natural and artificial flavor, high oleic sunflower oil, inulin, cellulose gel, tripotassium phosphate, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, sodium polyphosphates, cellulose gum, carrageenan, salt, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, ascorbic acid, sodium citrate, ferric orthophosphate, calcium phosphate, vitamin E acetate, beta carotene, niacinamide, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, cyanocobalamin

Categories

Dietary supplements Bodybuilding supplements Protein shakes

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