Ensure Plant-Based Protein Nutrition Shake Chocolate
At a glance
Summary
Ensure Plant-Based Protein Shake Chocolate scores 40/100. Abbott's plant-based RTD with fava bean + pea protein at 20 g, sweetened with organic cane sugar (7 g sugar) plus stevia + monk fruit — notably no sucralose or acesulfame potassium, putting it ahead of Abbott's standard Ensure formulas. Cleaner than the average mainstream RTD. But independent third-party lab testing (Consumer Reports, January 2024) detected 0.65 mcg lead per serving. Cadmium 1.55 and arsenic 0.80 mcg also detected. Owned by Abbott Laboratories.
Contaminants 4
Source: Consumer Reports January 2024
Lead 0.65 mcg per serving Moderate
A moderate level of lead — elevated enough to be a real sourcing concern; cleaner-tested options exist.
Independent third-party testing.
Cadmium 1.55 mcg per serving Moderate
Detected at a moderate level — a meaningful fraction of health-based exposure limits. Worth factoring in if this product is used regularly. Cadmium is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen that accumulates in the kidneys over a lifetime.
Consumer Reports January 2024 detected 1.55 mcg cadmium per serving.
Arsenic 0.8 mcg per serving Low
A low level of arsenic — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Consumer Reports January 2024 detected 0.8 mcg arsenic per serving.
Mercury not detected Not detected
Not detected — below the laboratory's detection limit. This is the strictest possible result: no measurable amount was found.
Consumer Reports January 2024 reported mercury below the lab's threshold of detection — no mercury measurable in this product.
Key ingredients 15
High Oleic Safflower OilVery Bad
High Oleic Safflower Oil is a refined seed oil. High-oleic varieties are higher in monounsaturated fat and lower in omega-6 than standard versions, but remain industrially processed seed oils — Scout classifies all seed oils as very_bad regardless of oleic profile.
See more about High Oleic Safflower Oil →Organic SugarBad
Refined added sugar — organic certification does not change the refining.
See more about Organic Sugar →Natural FlavorsBad
Proprietary flavor blend; can hide dozens of synthetic aroma chemicals and phthalate carriers under FDA trade-secret rules.
See more about Natural Flavors →Sunflower LecithinBad
Sunflower-derived emulsifier — cleaner than soy lecithin but still a refined, processed additive. Scout classifies lecithin emulsifiers as bad.
See more about Sunflower Lecithin →WaterNeutral
Solvent base for the ready-to-drink shake.
See more about Water →Fava Bean Protein IsolateNeutral
Legume-based plant protein that is reasonable for a plant source but less bioavailable than whey or milk protein, so more grams are needed to deliver the same usable amino acids. Naturally low in methionine, so typically blended with another protein to round out the profile. Fava crops accumulate cadmium from soil.
See more about Fava Bean Protein Isolate →Pea Protein ConcentrateNeutral
Plant-based protein that's notably good for a legume but still less bioavailable than whey or other animal-source proteins, meaning more grams are needed to deliver the same usable amino acids for muscle protein synthesis. Naturally low in methionine, so it does not stand alone as a complete protein and is typically blended with rice. Pea crops are also well-documented soil accumulators of lead and cadmium — the suspected primary contamination route in this product.
See more about Pea Protein Concentrate →Cocoa (Processed with Alkali)Neutral
Dutch-processed cocoa has reduced flavanol and antioxidant content compared to natural cocoa. Cocoa itself is also a known cadmium accumulator.
See more about Cocoa (Processed with Alkali) →Vitamins & MineralsNeutral
Synthetic micronutrient fortification supporting Abbott's medical-nutrition positioning (25 essential vitamins and minerals).
See more about Vitamins & Minerals →Cellulose GelNeutral
Microcrystalline cellulose stabilizer; inert at typical concentrations.
See more about Cellulose Gel →Cellulose GumNeutral
Wood-pulp-derived thickener; inert at typical concentrations but a processed-product marker.
See more about Cellulose Gum →Stevia Leaf ExtractNeutral
Natural zero-calorie sweetener from the stevia leaf. No significant health concerns, but Scout treats all stevia forms as neutral — neither penalized nor counted as a beneficial ingredient.
See more about Stevia Leaf Extract →Chicory Root FiberGood
Plant-derived prebiotic fiber (inulin) that supports gut microbiome diversity; the source of the 5 g fiber per serving.
See more about Chicory Root Fiber →Oat FiberGood
Whole-grain-derived insoluble fiber supporting digestive regularity.
See more about Oat Fiber →Monk Fruit ExtractGood
Plant-derived zero-calorie sweetener; safer than synthetic sweeteners and pairs well with stevia to balance aftertaste.
See more about Monk Fruit Extract →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
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