31 July 2018

Protein powders & snacks

Is the big push for extra protein really needed?

Protein powders and snacks, once reserved for weightlifters and gym enthusiasts, are now commonplace.

While the claims sprinkled on the containers make the products seem like a healthy choice, do you really need the protein boost? We assessed 46 powders and 25 snacks that boast about their protein to find out if they lived up to their claims.

The problem

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Protein needs

Finding a quality powder

Mass gainers & meal replacements

Snack claims

Nutrition information is per 100g. Products are listed in order of protein content.

A red symbol means the product has high levels; green means the food has low amounts; orange fits somewhere in between.

Our criteria are:

Saturated fat (g/100g)

≤1.5 1.6-5.0 >5

Sugar (g/100g)

≤5 5.1-22.5 ≥22.5

Sodium (mg/100g):

≤120 121-600 ≥600

Protein powders

Product	Serving size[width=auto]	Protein[width=small]	Saturated fat[width=auto]	Sugar[width=auto]	Sodium[width=auto]	Protein base[width=auto]
Zealea Egg White Protein Powder Drink Natural (1kg)	30g	81.8g	0g	0.1g	1980mg	Egg White
Natava Superfoods Natural Whey Protein Powder Natural (1kg)	30g	81.4g	3.81g	5.6g	663mg	Whey
Sunwarrior Classic Protein Natural (500g)	21g	80.9g	0g	0g	119mg	Rice
Amazonia Raw Protein Isolate Cacao and Coconut (500g)	30g	80.8g	0.9g	0.5g	863mg	Golden Pea, Rice
Amazonia Raw Protein Isolate Vanilla (500g)	30g	80.8g	0.9g	0.5g	863mg	Golden Pea
Amazonia Raw Protein Isolate Natural (500g)	30g	80.8g	0.9g	0.5g	863mg	Golden Pea and Rice Blend
Red 8 Pea Protein Isolate Unflavoured (500g)	25g	80g	0.6g	0g	600mg	Pea
NuZest Clean Lean Protein Vanilla (500g)	25g	80g	0.4g	0g	1428mg	Golden Pea
Sunwarrior Classic Plus Natural (500g)	25g	80g	0g	0g	640mg	Pea and rice
Balance 100% Whey Protein Creamy Vanilla (750g)	28g	79.4g	3.9g	4.7g	130mg	Whey
Amazonia Raw Paleo Fermented Protein Vanilla and Lucuma (500g)	30g	79.2g	1.5g	0.3g	851mg	Golden Pea
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolate (907g)	30.4g	78.9g	1.6g	3.3g	428mg	Whey
Bioglan Figure Protein Powder Vanilla (375g)	27g	78.6g	<1g	<1g	736mg	Soy
Zealea Whey Protein Chocolate (1kg)	30g	77.8g	4.1g	4.8g	170mg	Whey
Horleys 100% Whey Vanilla (340g)	24g	77.4g	4.9g	5.9g	183mg	Whey
Aussie Bodies Protein Fx 100% Whey Vanilla (700g)	30g	77.4g	4.9g	5.9g	137mg	Whey
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Banana Cream (907g)	31g	77.4g	1.6g	6.4g	419mg	Whey
Amazonia Raw Slim and Tone Protein Cacao and Macadamia (500g)	30g	76.2g	1.5g	0.3g	1020mg	Golden Pea
Sunwarrior Classic Protein Chocolate (500g)	21g	76.2g	0g	4.8g	214mg	Rice
NuZest Clean Lean Protein Chai Tumeric and Maca (500g)	25g	76g	0.8g	4.8g	1300mg	Pea
MusclePharm Combat 100% Whey Chocolate Milk (2268g)	33g	76g	1.5g	3g	212mg	Whey
Natava Superfoods Natural Whey Protein Powder Chocolate (1kg)	30g	75.9g	4.1g	5.1g	603mg	Whey
Zealea Vege'd Protein Vanilla (1kg)	30g	75.9g	0.5g	0.3g	1170mg	Pea
Aussie Bodies Protein Fx 100% Whey Chocolate (700g)	30g	75.3g	5g	5.8g	141mg	Whey
NZ Muscle Whey Protein Chocolate Cake (2268g)	32g	75g	4.7g	6.3g	156mg	Whey Blend
Horleys Sculpt Dietary Supplement Protein Powder Vanilla (500g)	25g	74.6g	2g	5.5g	683mg	Whey
BioX Power Whey Complex Chocolate (907g)	35g	74.3g	2.9g	5.7g	400mg	Whey Blend
Horleys Sculpt Dietary Supplement Protein Powder Berry (500g)	25g	74.2g	2g	4.9g	685mg	Whey
Musashi Lo Carb Protein Powder Vanilla (850g)	30g	72.4g	3.8g	11.8g	200mg	Whey Blend
Sunwarrior Classic Plus Vanilla (500g)	25g	72g	0g	0g	560mg	Pea and rice blend
Sunwarrior Classic Protein Vanilla (500g)	21g	71.4g	0g	4.8g	262mg	Rice
Sunwarrior Classic Plus Chocolate (500g)	25g	68g	0g	0g	1240mg	Pea and rice blend
Anchor Protein Plus Smoothie Booster Plain (375g)	26.6g	67.7g	2g	14.6g	127mg	Whey Blend
Musashi High Protein Powder Vanilla (900g)	45g	66.7g	1.8g	15.3g	142mg	Whey Blend
Anchor Protein Plus Smoothie Booster Vanilla (375g)	26.6g	64.4g	1.9g	15.3g	122mg	Whey Blend
Anchor Protein Plus Smoothie Booster Strawberry (375g)	26.6g	64g	1.9g	13.5g	116mg	Whey Blend
Musashi Shred and Burn Protein Chocolate (714g)	34g	61.6g	2.1g	10.8g	221mg	Whey
Red Seal Fit Protein Vanilla (500g)	30g	60.5g	2.4g	12.4g	332mg	Whey
Red Seal Fit Protein Chocolate (500g)	30g	60.2g	2.3g	12.4g	322mg	Whey
Amazonia Raw Purple Rice Protein Vanilla Acai (450g)	30g	58.5g	1.5g	1.5g	17mg	Rice Blend
Amazonia Raw Purple Rice Protein Cacao Coconut (450g)	30g	57.2g	1.8g	1.6g	29mg	Rice Blend
Clean Paleo Protein Powder Vanilla (600g)	30g	56.7g	0.2g	11.9g	875mg	Egg White
Clean Paleo Protein Powder Light Chocolate (600g)	30g	56.7g	2.6g	14.7g	780mg	Golden Pea
NuZest Just Fruit and Vege Wild Berry (250g)	25g	56.4g	0.8g	10.4g	1008mg	Whey, casenite, soy blend
Atkins Low Carb Protein Shake Mix Vanilla (310g)	31g	54.9g	2.6g	4.2g	473mg	Egg White
NuZest Just Fruit and Vege Fresh Coconut (250g)	25g	48.8g	8g	12.4g	860mg	Golden Pea

Protein snacks

Product	Protein[width=small]	Saturated fat[width=auto]	Sugar[width=auto]	Sodium[width=auto]	Protein base[width=auto]
Quest Protein Chips Sour Cream & Onion	65.6g	0g	3.1g	500mg	Milk and whey
BodyTrim Lo Carb Protein Bar Chocolate Fudge	35.2g	4.5g	2.2g	269mg	Soy, whey, casenite
Quest Protein Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough	35g	3g	1g	352mg	Milk and whey
Horleys Protein 33 Tropical Crush	33.9g	3.1g	28.7g	158mg	Soy, casenite, whey
Musashi Shred and Burn Protein Bar Choc Mint	33.6g	5.5g	0.5g	312mg	Casenite, whey, soy
Horleys Protein 33 Protein Bar Choc Fudge	33.3g	2.8g	38.5g	167mg	Soy, casenite, whey
Aussie Bodies Lo Carb Protein Bar Whipped English Toffee	32.3g	4.9g	2.3g	274mg	Casenite, whey, soy
Horleys Carb Less Protein Bar Chocolate	31.7g	3.6g	9.8g	309mg	Soy Protein Nuggets
Atkins Advantage Nutrition Bar Chocolate Decadence	30g	11g	1.3g	200mg	Soy
Aussie Bodies Lo Carb Protein Bar Whipped Boysenberry	29.9g	4.8g	0.9g	154mg	Casenite, whey, soy
Musashi High Protein Bar Chocolate Brownie	29.8g	4.6g	2g	310mg	Casenite, soy, whey
Kelloggs Special K Protein Bliss Bites Salted Caramel	26.3g	7.3g	2g	130mg	Casenite, whey blend
Tasti Protein Bar Roasted Peanut	25.6g	6.7g	20.3g	461mg	Soy
SunWarrior Organic Sol Good Protein Bar Cinnamon Roll	25.4g	4.5g	9.0g	119mg	Rice, pea, quinoa blend
Nice and Natural Protein Nut Bar Salted Caramel Nut	25.2g	6.3g	4g	295mg	Soy
Tasti Protein Bar Dark Choc Orange	25.1g	6.3g	21g	222mg	Soy
Nature Valley Protein Museli Bar Salted Caramel Nut	25g	7.6g	14.9g	451mg	Soy
Verkerks Salami Nibbles Protein Snack	24.8g	11.3g	1.5g	1378mg	Pork/beef
Weight Watchers Protein Bar Dark Choc Caramel	24.8g	4.9g	18.4g	202mg	Soy
Justines Protein Cookie Chocolate Chip	26.3g	8.8g	1.4g	320mg	Casenite, egg, nut blend
Bounce Protein Energy Balls Peanut	29g	2g	24g	296mg	Whey
FitMiss Delight Protein Bar	30g	8g	10g	200mg	Whey
Ceres Organic Raw Goodness Cacao Protein Food Bar	10.9g	6.4g	37.8g	30mg	Rice
Anchor Protein + Yoghurt Pouch Vanilla	7.4g	1.1g	7.8g	86mg	Milk
Kelloggs Nutri-Grain To Go Protein Squeezer Choc Malt Slam	4.1g	1.6g	8.7g	40mg	Pea/soy/milk

GUIDE TO THE TABLES PRODUCTS were selected based on commonly available products in supermarkets and food stores, and bestsellers on sport supplement websites. PRICE is price we paid. PROTEIN, SATURATED FAT, SUGAR and SODIUM (per 100g) are from the label or website information. MAIN PROTEIN SOURCE is from ingredients list.

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