Meat & protein · US label
Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal
Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: Truvani Organic Unflavored and Unsweetened Plant Based Protein Powder (100/100) · Buy on Amazon ↗ (affiliate link)
The recorded US ingredient statement lists artificial dyes and artificial sweeteners (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Confirm the exact formula on your package.
Label checked 2026-10-16. USDA FoodData Central · How we verify labels and scores
Label review by CleanFoodScore Research Team.
Label on your package different? Tell us.
How scoring works
The clean score reads only the ingredient label. Up to 60 points come from the 9 additive groups we check: each group not on the label earns its share, and a group named only in a "may contain" note earns half. Up to 25 points come from an organic claim we have confirmed. Up to 15 points come from a confirmed grass-fed or pasture-raised claim. Points that do not apply to this kind of food are left out and the rest is scaled to 100.
This product: 7 of 9 groups not on the label. No confirmed organic claim. No confirmed grass-fed or pasture-raised claim.
It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
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Choose additive groups to check. Your choices are saved on this browser and update your ingredient results.
Your ingredient check
2 of your 4 avoided groups are listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 2.
Additive Check Details
red 40 lakesucralose; acesulfame potassiumThis checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal
Label checked2026-10-16 · US
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Copied word for word from the labelUSDA FoodData Central
Keep exploring
Higher-scoring picks on this shelf
TruvaniOrganic Unflavored and Unsweetened Plant Based Protein Powder
Z Natural FoodsOrganic Grass-Fed Vanilla Whey Protein, Whey ConcentrateLabel data source
Ingredients and nutrition come from USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods (FDC ID 2670879, data date 2023-11-16, release 2026-04-30). These are brand-submitted label records in the public domain (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-16. Check the package for the current label.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per serving (31 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 387 kcal | 120 kcal |
| Total fat | 4.8 g | 1.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.2 g | 1 g |
| Sodium | 419 mg | 130 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 9.7 g | 3 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.2 g | 1 g |
| Total sugars | 6.5 g | 2 g |
| Added sugars | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 77.4 g | 24 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 6.5 g | 2 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose these protein powders
The recorded ingredient label lists 7 ingredients, led by protein blend, natural and artificial flavor and sunflower and/or soy lecithin. Worth noting: it lists natural flavors, artificial dyes and artificial sweeteners. For these protein powders, the comparison that matters most is protein source: choose the protein base and review its allergen information.
- Worth checkingLists artificial dyes (red 40 lake).
- Worth checkingLists artificial sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame potassium).
- Good to knowUses non-sugar sweeteners: sucralose and acesulfame.
- Worth checkingLists natural flavors; the specific flavoring ingredients are not disclosed.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk and soy. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
- Good to knowDairy-based protein: Consumer Reports’ 2025 tests found dairy-based powders generally had the lowest lead, though half of those tested still had levels at which it advises against daily use.
May suit you if…
- You want to cut added sugar and are comfortable with non-sugar sweeteners.
You may prefer another option if…
- You avoid artificial dyes: the recorded label lists red 40 lake.
- You avoid artificial sweeteners: the recorded label lists sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- You avoid non-sugar sweeteners: it uses sucralose and acesulfame.
- You want every flavoring ingredient disclosed: natural flavors are not itemized.
Compare this against other protein powders
- Protein source. Choose the protein base and review its allergen information.
- Protein per serving. Compare grams of protein against scoop weight and servings per bag.
- Exact flavor recipe. Check sweeteners and thickeners even in products called unflavored.
Keep reading
- Artificial Dyes on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Artificial Sweeteners on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Compare every label we have recorded on the protein powders shelf
- Browse the protein powders shelf
References
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2670879) USDA FoodData Central
- NSF Certified for Sport NSF
- Informed Sport batch-tested supplements LGC
- Aspartame and other sweeteners in food U.S. Food and Drug Administration
These notes summarize the linked ingredient record and public references. Records may come from manufacturer pages or USDA FoodData Central brand-submitted labels. They are not medical advice or a nutrition, allergy or safety rating, and the maker’s claims are not independently verified here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal contain seed oils?
No listed matches for seed oils were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
Does Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal contain artificial dyes or MSG?
The recorded ingredient statement lists artificial dyes or MSG. Review the full statement for the exact ingredients.
What is the verification standard for this product?
The complete ingredient statement was recorded from the linked product-specific source on 2026-10-16. Evidence expires after 90 days and requires a new source review; viewing this page does not renew it.
What are the ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: PROTEIN BLEND (WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, HYDROLYZED WHEY PROTEIN), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SOY LECITHIN, SALT, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE.
Is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink Mix, Fruity Cereal healthy?
Its recorded label lists artificial dyes and artificial sweeteners (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Its clean score is 47 out of 100. That is a label check, not a nutrition rating: sugar, sodium, calories and portion size are separate questions.
Same shelf. Different labels.
What else could go in your basket?
See the full table: Protein powders ranked by clean scoreProtein powders options · US labels. Sorted by clean score, the same label-based score as the shelf ranking table; each card names the additive groups its label lists out of the 9 we check. Neither is a nutrition or quality rating. Different formats and flavors can have different recipes.
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Prices are dated observations for the stated package, exclude tax and shipping, and expire after 30 days. Ingredient evidence expires after 90 days. Unknown evidence is never ranked as fewer matches.
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