Whey Protein Isolate

Name: Whey Protein Isolate
Brand: Transparent Labs

0Avoid

Breakdown

Ultra-processed · 4 contaminants flagged · 1 ingredient to avoid

Includes lab results from its product family: Transparent Labs Plain/Flavoured Whey Isolate

100

Lab-measured contaminants

Measured against published safety limits

−96

mercury−45

cadmium−20

lead−16

arsenic−15

Ingredients

−13

natural flavors−13

Processing

−10

NOVA 4: ultra-processed−10

Adjustments

What it takes to land on the final number

+19

Minimum score+19

Final score0

Contaminants · 9

4 at/over limit

From lab tests of this product’s family

Transparent Labs Plain/Flavoured Whey Isolate

This product wasn’t tested · results may differ

In the family’s tests: measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Mercury14 ppbof 2 ppb

Over the limit — 7×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.002 mg/L

Measured in: Grass fed whey protein isolate

Cadmium21 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 4.2×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel

Lead13 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 2.6×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel

Arsenic22 ppbof 10 ppb

Over the limit — 2.2×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.010 mg/L (= EPA MCL)

Measured in: Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel

E. ColiNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Strawberry Milkshake

SalmonellaNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Strawberry Milkshake

Staphylococcus AureusNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Strawberry Milkshake

Total ColiformNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Strawberry Milkshake

Total Plate CountNDnone found

Not detected

Measured in: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored

Ingredients · 4

GoodCautionAvoid

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Common questions

Is Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate healthy?

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate scores 0/100 on Tallow — our avoid band. That number comes from what is on the label: the ingredients, how processed it is, and what it is packaged in, plus lab results from its product family, Transparent Labs Plain/Flavoured Whey Isolate. It is not a verdict on your diet — Tallow does not weigh calories, portion size or how often you eat it, so a high score means the ingredients are clean, not that the food is unlimited.

What is in Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate?

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate lists 4 ingredients, starting with Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate, Natural Flavors, Stevia Extract and Salt. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few make up most of what you are eating.

Does Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate contain seed oils?

No. Nothing in Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate’s ingredient list matches a seed oil — canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, rice bran or peanut oil, or an unspecified "vegetable oil".

How processed is Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate?

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate is NOVA group 4: ultra-processed. That is the top of the scale and the classification the score penalises most heavily.

How does Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate compare to other protein powders?

At 0/100 Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate scores worse than most protein powders we have scored. A higher-scoring option in protein powders is VEGA Pea Protein Powder Chocolate at 100/100.

Is Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate organic?

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate is not certified organic in our data.

Has Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate been lab tested?

Not this product itself. It shares a base recipe (Grass-fed whey protein isolate with flavour/stevia; no cocoa, peanut or cinnamon) with the other products in its family, Transparent Labs Plain/Flavoured Whey Isolate, and 4 products in its family have been lab tested. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Those results are in the family's Contaminants section above; its own results may differ.

Does Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate contain heavy metals?

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate itself has not been tested for heavy metals, but other products in its family, which share its base recipe, have: a lab detected arsenic at 22 ppb against a 10 ppb limit in Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel, cadmium at 21 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel, lead at 13 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Salted Chocolate Caramel and mercury at 14 ppb against a 2 ppb limit in Grass fed whey protein isolate. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Its own results may differ.

Full methodology: how we score products.