The Beginner's Guide to Reading a Supplement Label

Supplement labels are designed to impress, not inform. Here is the 60-second method our reviewers use to judge any protein in the aisle.

Start with the serving, not the protein

A “30g protein” claim on a 45g scoop beats the same claim on a 60g scoop. Divide protein by serving size: anything above 75% is genuinely concentrated.

Read the first three ingredients

They make up most of the tub. You want to see whey isolate, concentrate, milk protein, pea or rice protein — not maltodextrin, creamer, or sugar.

Count the sweeteners

One sweetener is normal; three or four (sucralose plus acesulfame-K plus dextrose…) signals a flavour system doing heavy lifting. Unflavoured options dodge this entirely.

Look for the seal

Third-party certification logos live near the bottom panel. No seal does not prove a bad product, but a seal proves someone checked.

Check the math on price

Divide tub price by servings, then by protein per serving. Cost per 25g of protein is the only fair comparison — it is how we rank every pick we suggest.