Orgain Organic Protein Plant-Based Powder Vanilla Bean
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
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 ProteinNeutral
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.
See more about Organic Pea Protein →Organic Brown Rice ProteinNeutral
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.
See more about Organic Brown Rice Protein →Organic Mung Bean ProteinNeutral
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.
See more about Organic Mung Bean Protein →Organic Chia SeedGood
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.
See more about Organic Chia Seed →Organic Acacia GumNeutral
Plant-derived (acacia tree sap) prebiotic fiber and emulsifier; inert and may support gut health at higher doses.
See more about Organic Acacia Gum →Organic High Oleic Sunflower OilVery 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.
See more about Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil →Organic InulinGood
Plant-derived prebiotic fiber that supports gut microbiome diversity.
See more about Organic Inulin →Organic ErythritolNeutral
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.
See more about Organic Erythritol →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 →Organic Alkalized CocoaNeutral
Dutch-processed organic cocoa has reduced flavanol content vs natural cocoa. Cocoa is also a known cadmium accumulator.
See more about Organic Alkalized Cocoa →Organic Stevia 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 Organic Stevia Extract →Sea SaltGood
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.
See more about Sea Salt →Organic Guar GumNeutral
USDA Organic plant-derived (legume seed) thickener; inert and safe at typical concentrations.
See more about Organic Guar Gum →Xanthan GumNeutral
Microbial-fermentation-derived thickener; inert and safe at typical concentrations.
See more about Xanthan Gum →Processing
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