MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer Vanilla Milkshake
At a glance
Summary
MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer Vanilla Milkshake scores 38/100. 1,500-calorie mass gainer with a 5-protein blend (whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, egg albumin, whey protein isolate 97%, hydrolyzed whey protein isolate) at 60 g protein, 5 g creatine, and the standout ModCarb whole-grain blend (oat bran, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, isomaltulose) — the only mass gainer in the survey using something other than straight maltodextrin as the primary carb. But the formula still includes maltodextrin, a cocoa flavor system with corn syrup + sodium caseinate + mono & diglycerides + potassium phosphate, soy/sunflower lecithin, a thickener stack of cellulose gum + xanthan + carrageenan, plus sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Heavy metal lab values are at trace levels (lead not detected, arsenic 1.86 mcg) — the formula is the issue here, not contamination. Owned by Iovate Health Sciences.
Contaminants 4
Source: Consumer Reports January 2024
Lead 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 lead below the lab's threshold of detection — no lead measurable in this product.
Cadmium 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 cadmium below the lab's threshold of detection — no cadmium measurable in this product.
Arsenic 1.86 mcg per serving Moderate
A moderate level of arsenic — elevated enough to be a real sourcing concern; cleaner-tested options exist.
Consumer Reports January 2024 detected 1.86 mcg arsenic per serving— at trace levels.
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 31
MaltodextrinBad
Highly refined starch filler with a glycemic impact above table sugar.
See more about Maltodextrin →Powdered CarobBad
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Powdered Carob →Corn SyrupBad
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Corn Syrup →MonoBad
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Mono →DiglyceridesBad
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Diglycerides →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 →Soy and/or Sunflower LecithinBad
Unspecified-source emulsifier; the 'and/or soy' wording allows GMO soy lecithin without disclosure on the front label.
See more about Soy and/or Sunflower Lecithin →CarrageenanBad
Seaweed-derived thickener linked in some studies to gut inflammation.
See more about Carrageenan →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 →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 →Cocoa (Processed with Alkali)Neutral
Dutch-processed cocoa has reduced flavanol and antioxidant content compared to natural cocoa.
See more about Cocoa (Processed with Alkali) →Sodium CaseinateNeutral
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Sodium Caseinate →Potassium PhosphateNeutral
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Potassium Phosphate →Silicon DioxideNeutral
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Silicon Dioxide →Calcium CarbonateNeutral
Mineral fortification source for calcium.
See more about Calcium Carbonate →Cellulose GumNeutral
Wood-pulp-derived thickener; inert at typical concentrations but a processed-product marker.
See more about Cellulose Gum →Xanthan GumNeutral
Microbial-fermentation-derived thickener; inert and safe at typical concentrations.
See more about Xanthan Gum →SaltNeutral
Sodium for flavor balance; minimal contribution to total sodium intake.
See more about Salt →Whey Protein ConcentrateGood
Primary protein source in the blend with high bioavailability and a complete amino acid profile.
See more about Whey Protein Concentrate →Calcium CaseinateGood
Slow-digesting casein-derived protein providing sustained amino acid release.
See more about Calcium Caseinate →Hydrolyzed Whey Protein IsolateGood
Pre-digested whey for faster absorption.
See more about Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate →Coconut OilGood
Part of Cocoa Flavor. Composite flavor system stacking corn syrup, mono and diglycerides (which can contain trans fats not required to be labeled), industrial phosphate, and unspecified natural flavor — a long ingredient list buried inside the 'flavor' label.
See more about Coconut Oil →Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)Good
Coconut-derived MCTs that are rapidly absorbed for energy. A genuinely beneficial fat source in a high-calorie mass gainer.
See more about Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) →Egg AlbuminVery Good
Egg-white protein providing a complete amino acid profile and an alternative animal-source protein for those rotating beyond dairy.
See more about Egg Albumin →Whey Protein Isolate 97%Very Good
Ultra-high-purity whey isolate with minimal fat and lactose.
See more about Whey Protein Isolate 97% →Oat BranVery Good
Part of ModCarb Blend. Whole-grain and pseudo-grain carbohydrate blend providing fiber, micronutrients, and a slower-release glycemic profile than commodity maltodextrin. Isomaltulose is a low-glycemic disaccharide. The single best carbohydrate inclusion in any mass gainer in the 2024 chart.
See more about Oat Bran →QuinoaVery Good
Part of ModCarb Blend. Whole-grain and pseudo-grain carbohydrate blend providing fiber, micronutrients, and a slower-release glycemic profile than commodity maltodextrin. Isomaltulose is a low-glycemic disaccharide. The single best carbohydrate inclusion in any mass gainer in the 2024 chart.
See more about Quinoa →BuckwheatVery Good
Part of ModCarb Blend. Whole-grain and pseudo-grain carbohydrate blend providing fiber, micronutrients, and a slower-release glycemic profile than commodity maltodextrin. Isomaltulose is a low-glycemic disaccharide. The single best carbohydrate inclusion in any mass gainer in the 2024 chart.
See more about Buckwheat →MilletVery Good
Part of ModCarb Blend. Whole-grain and pseudo-grain carbohydrate blend providing fiber, micronutrients, and a slower-release glycemic profile than commodity maltodextrin. Isomaltulose is a low-glycemic disaccharide. The single best carbohydrate inclusion in any mass gainer in the 2024 chart.
See more about Millet →IsomaltuloseVery Good
Part of ModCarb Blend. Whole-grain and pseudo-grain carbohydrate blend providing fiber, micronutrients, and a slower-release glycemic profile than commodity maltodextrin. Isomaltulose is a low-glycemic disaccharide. The single best carbohydrate inclusion in any mass gainer in the 2024 chart.
See more about Isomaltulose →Creatine MonohydrateVery Good
Most-researched ergogenic supplement on the market. Robustly supports strength, power output, and lean mass gains. A genuinely beneficial inclusion in a mass gainer.
See more about Creatine Monohydrate →Processing
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