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.
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.
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
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 |
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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