Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder Vanilla Bean

Orgain
Contains seed oils Lab tested
38 Poor
$29.59 · 2.03 lb
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Summary

Orgain Organic Protein Vanilla Bean scores 38/100. USDA Organic plant blend (pea, brown rice, mung bean, chia) at 21 g protein. Formula uses erythritol + stevia (no sucralose), organic acacia/guar/xanthan gums, organic high oleic sunflower oil. Genuinely cleaner than mainstream RTDs, but the plant feedstock carries heavy-metal contamination: independent third-party lab testing (Microbac Laboratories, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited, June 2026) detected lead at 67 ppb, cadmium at 24 ppb, and arsenic at 15 ppb. The elevated lead is what holds the score down. Owned by Nestlé Health Science (since 2022).

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 3
Harmful ingredients 2
Owned by Nestlé Health Science
Category Protein Powders

Contaminants 3

Source: Microbac Laboratories — independent, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited (June 2026)

Lead
67 ppb
High

A high level of lead. No safe level of lead exposure is established, so an elevated reading like this is a genuine sourcing concern; cleaner-tested protein powders exist.

Microbac Laboratories (June 2026) measured lead at a highest concentration of 67 ppb.

Cadmium
24 ppb
Moderate

A moderate level of cadmium — worth factoring in with regular use. Cadmium is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen that accumulates in the kidneys over a lifetime.

Microbac Laboratories (June 2026) measured cadmium at a highest concentration of 24 ppb.

Arsenic
15 ppb
Low

A low level of arsenic — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.

Microbac Laboratories (June 2026) measured arsenic at a highest concentration of 15 ppb.

Key ingredients 14

Organic Pea Protein
Neutral

USDA Organic 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. Organic certification controls pesticides and synthetic fertilizers but not soil-accumulated heavy metals — pea crops are well-documented lead and cadmium accumulators.

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Organic Brown Rice Protein
Neutral

USDA Organic plant protein commonly paired with pea to round out the amino acid profile. On its own, brown rice protein is naturally low in lysine and less bioavailable than whey, so a larger gram dose is required to deliver the same usable amino acids for muscle protein synthesis. Brown rice is also the most well-documented arsenic accumulator in the food supply — the suspected source of arsenic detected here.

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Organic Mung Bean Protein
Neutral

USDA Organic legume-based plant protein adding amino acid diversity. Less bioavailable than whey or other animal-source proteins. Soil-grown so does not avoid heavy-metal accumulation.

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Organic Chia Seed
Good

Whole-seed plant protein adding amino acid diversity, polyphenols, and omega-3 ALA. Less bioavailable than whey and contributes only a small fraction of the total protein dose — a whole-food positive but not a primary protein driver.

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Organic Acacia Gum
Neutral

Plant-derived (acacia tree sap) prebiotic fiber and emulsifier; inert and may support gut health at higher doses.

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Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil
Very Bad

Organic 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.

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Organic Inulin
Good

Plant-derived prebiotic fiber that supports gut microbiome diversity.

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Organic Erythritol
Neutral

Sugar alcohol with near-zero glycemic impact. A 2023 NIH-funded observational study suggested an association with cardiovascular events at high blood levels, but causation is not established; generally considered safer than synthetic sweeteners.

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Natural Flavors
Bad

Proprietary flavor blend; can hide dozens of synthetic aroma chemicals and phthalate carriers under FDA trade-secret rules.

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Organic Alkalized Cocoa
Neutral

Dutch-processed organic cocoa has reduced flavanol content vs natural cocoa. Cocoa is also a known cadmium accumulator.

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Organic Stevia Extract
Neutral

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.

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Sea Salt
Good

Unrefined sea salt — a minimally processed, natural source of sodium and essential trace minerals, and a legitimate whole-food seasoning. Treated as a positive ingredient.

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Organic Guar Gum
Neutral

USDA Organic plant-derived (legume seed) thickener; inert and safe at typical concentrations.

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Xanthan Gum
Neutral

Microbial-fermentation-derived thickener; inert and safe at typical concentrations.

See more about Xanthan Gum →

Processing

Group 3 · Processed

Processed Foods

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