Muscle Milk Pro Advanced Knockout Chocolate Shake
Summary
Muscle Milk Pro Advanced Knockout Chocolate scores 30/100. The worst formula in Batch B — milk protein isolate + calcium caseinate + sodium caseinate at 32 g protein, but stacked with sucralose + acesulfame potassium + carrageenan + natural and artificial flavors + soluble corn fiber + cellulose gel/gum + tripotassium phosphate + sodium polyphosphates. Independent third-party lab testing (Consumer Reports, January 2024) detected 0.63 mcg lead per serving, 0.94 mcg cadmium, 0.45 mcg arsenic, and 0.20 mcg mercury. Owned by PepsiCo (since 2024 acquisition of Siete Foods/CytoSport portfolio).
At a glance
Contaminants 4
Source: Consumer Reports January 2024
Lead 0.63 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 0.94 mcg per serving Low
A low level of cadmium — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Consumer Reports January 2024 detected 0.94 mcg cadmium per serving.
Arsenic 0.45 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 0.45 mcg arsenic per serving.
Mercury 0.2 mcg per serving Low
A low level of mercury — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Independent third-party testing.
Key ingredients 17
WaterNeutral
Solvent base for the ready-to-drink shake.
See more about Water →Milk Protein IsolateGood
Higher-purity milk protein with minimal lactose and fat; supports muscle recovery.
See more about Milk Protein Isolate →Calcium CaseinateNeutral
Slow-digesting casein-derived protein; complete amino acid profile but more processed than native casein.
See more about Calcium Caseinate →Sodium CaseinateBad
Heavily processed casein derivative made using sodium hydroxide. Industrial-grade protein ingredient further removed from natural dairy than calcium caseinate.
See more about Sodium Caseinate →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) →Soluble Corn FiberNeutral
Industrially produced fiber from corn starch; counted toward the fiber claim but offers limited gut-microbiome benefit compared to whole-food fiber.
See more about Soluble Corn Fiber →Natural and Artificial FlavorsBad
Synthetic chemical compounds with zero transparency on composition and no nutritional value.
See more about Natural and Artificial Flavors →High Oleic Sunflower OilVery Bad
High Oleic Sunflower 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 Sunflower Oil →Cellulose GelNeutral
Microcrystalline cellulose stabilizer; inert at typical concentrations.
See more about Cellulose Gel →InulinGood
Plant-derived prebiotic fiber that supports gut microbiome diversity.
See more about Inulin →Tripotassium PhosphateBad
Industrial phosphate emulsifier/buffer. Excess phosphate intake from processed foods is associated with cardiovascular and kidney concerns.
See more about Tripotassium Phosphate →Sodium PolyphosphatesBad
Industrial phosphate emulsifier. Excess phosphate intake from processed foods is associated with cardiovascular and kidney concerns.
See more about Sodium Polyphosphates →Cellulose GumNeutral
Wood-pulp-derived thickener; inert at typical concentrations but a processed-product marker.
See more about Cellulose Gum →SucraloseBad
Chlorinated artificial sweetener linked to disruption of gut microbiome, potential insulin response issues, and generation of harmful chlorinated compounds during metabolism.
See more about Sucralose →CarrageenanVery Bad
Controversial thickener extracted from red seaweed. Linked to gastrointestinal inflammation, intestinal lesions, and potential tumor promotion in animal studies. Banned in infant formula in the EU.
See more about Carrageenan →Acesulfame PotassiumBad
Artificial sweetener (Ace-K) with limited long-term safety data. Often paired with sucralose to mask aftertaste — a double artificial sweetener load.
See more about Acesulfame Potassium →SaltNeutral
Sodium for flavor balance; minimal contribution to total sodium intake.
See more about Salt →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
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