CytoSport (Muscle Milk)

Starts at 50, ends at 60.

• +9 NSF Certified for Sport coverage across powder portfolio ^1,2,3,4,5 Current as of 2026 official and NSF directory pages. Pattern calculation: PepsiCo states all Muscle Milk powder products are NSF Certified for Sport, and sampled NSF listings confirm Genuine Protein Powder, 100% Whey, and Pro Series Creatine. Because this appears broad for powders but not the full ready-to-drink portfolio, I applied 90% of the +10 upper value, rounded to +9. · full weight
• +8 Third-party testing disclosed through NSF Certified for Sport ^5,7,8 Current product pages. NSF screening is disclosed, but product-level COAs and full contaminant panels are not public, so this uses the low end of the +8 to +12 range. · full weight
• −5 Historical independent heavy-metal concern in protein products ^20,21,22 2010 to 2012, more than 10 years ago. Base contamination quality concern selected at -20 because Consumer Reports and related litigation concerned heavy metals, then discounted 25% for age: -20 x 0.25 = -5. · 25% weight
• −2 Historical voluntary spoilage recall affecting Muscle Milk drinks ^23,24 June 2016, slightly more than 10 years ago as of 2026-07-01. Base minor voluntary recall quality penalty selected at -8 because it was a packaging spoilage issue with no reported illnesses, then discounted 25%: -8 x 0.25 = -2. · 25% weight

Starts at 50, ends at 76.

• +14 Effective dosing in sampled current product line ^{7,8,9,10,11,13,14} Current labels and product pages. Pattern calculation: 7 of 7 sampled current products had meaningful headline doses, including 25 g to 50 g protein per serving or 5 g creatine monohydrate. That is 100% of the sampled set, so I awarded near the top of the +10 to +15 range: +14. · full weight
• +5 Fast and slow protein combinations with plausible recovery rationale ^7,8,10 Current product pages. Awarded low to mid range within +5 to +8 because Muscle Milk uses whey and casein-style milk proteins for mixed digestion speeds, but I did not find brand-owned clinical trials on current products. · full weight
• +5 Functional protein forms and creatine monohydrate ^3,9,15 Current and 2026 sources. Awarded +5 because sampled products include whey isolate or concentrate, ultra-filtered milk in reformulated shakes, and 5 g creatine monohydrate. This is not the full premium-ingredient award because branded trademarked inputs were not found as a broad pattern. · full weight
• +4 Headline active amounts disclosed rather than hidden in proprietary blends ^{7,8,9,10,11,12} Current labels and product pages. Partial +4 because total protein, creatine, calories, carbohydrates, and key nutrients are disclosed, but protein sub-fractions are not fully quantified. · full weight
• +3 2026 ready-to-drink reformulation reduced artificial-ingredient burden ¹⁵ May 2026, within the last 2 years. Awarded modest +3 because the reformulated shake line claims ultra-filtered milk and no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or added colors, but this improvement applies to ready-to-drink shakes and not necessarily all powders. · full weight
• −5 Calorie, fat, and additive tradeoffs in powder formulas ^{12,28,29,30,31} Current labels and 2024 to 2026 expert reviews. Low severity negative because sampled powder products are not underdosed, but expert reviewers flagged higher calories, carbs, fat, sucralose, artificial flavors, large serving sizes, and mixed taste or texture feedback. · full weight

Starts at 50, ends at 48.

• +10 Ownership and brand structure are clearly disclosed ^5,16 Current official Muscle Milk page and 2019 transaction release. Awarded +10 within the +8 to +12 ownership disclosure range because PepsiCo, Gatorade, Hormel, and the Muscle Milk acquisition history are disclosed clearly. · full weight
• +8 Testing disclosure through NSF Certified for Sport on powders ^1,5,7,8 Current. Awarded +8 within the third-party testing disclosure range because NSF status is disclosed, but public COAs and batch-specific lab results were not found. · full weight
• +4 Clear public nutrition and product labeling via SmartLabel and product pages ^{7,8,11,12,13,14,17} Current. Awarded +4 within the +3 to +5 clear labeling range for accessible nutrition panels, product FAQs, and contact channels. · full weight
• −5 FDA warning letter for misleading milk and nutrient-content labeling ^18,19 June 2011, more than 10 years ago. Base misleading-label penalty selected at -20 because FDA called specific labels false or misleading, then discounted 25% for age: -20 x 0.25 = -5. · 25% weight
• −8 2020 court-approved class settlement over protein, lean, and fat-content allegations ^26,27 Final approval in October 2020, 5 to 10 years ago. Base transparency penalty selected at -15 because the allegations concerned label and advertising representations. Discounted 50% for age: -15 x 0.50 = -7.5, rounded to -8. The settlement resolved allegations, and CytoSport denied wrongdoing according to settlement reporting. · 50% weight
• −5 Historical Proposition 65 and related nondisclosure settlement allegations involving heavy metals ^20,21,22 2010 to 2012, more than 10 years ago. Base misleading or nondisclosure penalty selected at -20, discounted 25% for age: -20 x 0.25 = -5. CytoSport denied the allegations according to settlement reporting. · 25% weight
• −6 Limited sourcing and current facility transparency for a large mainstream brand ^5,6,17 Current audit. Applied low end of the premium-brand no-sourcing or no-facility-info penalty because ownership and contact information are clear, but ingredient sourcing, supplier countries, current manufacturing locations, and public batch testing were not found. · full weight

Starts at 90, ends at 62.

• −6 FDA warning letter for misbranding and misleading labels ^18,19 June 2011, more than 10 years ago. Base FDA warning-letter penalty selected at -25 because FDA identified significant labeling violations, then discounted 25%: -25 x 0.25 = -6.25, rounded to -6. · 25% weight
• −6 Heavy-metal lab findings and related California settlement history ^20,21,22 2010 to 2012, more than 10 years ago. Base contamination or alleged contamination penalty selected at -24 because Consumer Reports used outside lab testing and related litigation alleged heavy metals. Discounted 25% for age: -24 x 0.25 = -6. CytoSport denied the allegations according to settlement reporting. · 25% weight
• −2 2016 voluntary Muscle Milk drink recall for potential premature spoilage ^23,24 June 2016, slightly more than 10 years ago. Base minor voluntary recall penalty selected at -8 because it was a packaging spoilage issue, limited to certain code dates, and the notice reported no confirmed illnesses or injuries. Discounted 25%: -8 x 0.25 = -2. · 25% weight
• −6 2021 CytoSport Evolve voluntary allergen recall for undeclared soy risk ²⁵ May 2021, 5 to 10 years ago as of 2026-07-01. Base undisclosed-allergen penalty selected at -12 because the recall involved soy cross-contamination risk for allergic consumers, limited lots, and no reported illnesses. Discounted 50%: -12 x 0.50 = -6. · 50% weight
• −8 2020 class action settlement over Muscle Milk protein and lean-label allegations ^26,27 October 2020 final approval, 5 to 10 years ago. Base class-action penalty selected at -15 due to label-accuracy allegations affecting powders and ready-to-drink products, then discounted 50%: -15 x 0.50 = -7.5, rounded to -8. The settlement resolved allegations, and CytoSport denied wrongdoing according to settlement reporting. · 50% weight

Starts at 50, ends at 84.

• +12 Premium is partly justified by NSF Certified for Sport coverage on powders ^1,5,7,8,32 Current. Awarded low end of +12 to +18 because NSF Certified for Sport is a real value add for athletes, but the brand lacks public COAs and broad sourcing transparency. · full weight
• +12 Market-rate to favorable protein cost in sampled pricing ^32,33,34,35 Current 2026 pricing pages and 2026 ConsumerLab cost context. Pattern calculation: sampled Muscle Milk prices include direct RTD pricing at $2.33 per 26 g shake, Walmart multipack pricing around $1.36 per 26 g shake, and bulk 100% Whey at $85.99 for 5 lb. ConsumerLab reports most protein products cost about $1 to $2 per 20 g protein, with approved products ranging from $0.62 to $2.86. Sampled Muscle Milk examples fall within or near that market band, so I awarded the low end of +12 to +18 for fair to favorable pricing. · full weight
• +6 Transparent direct pricing and subscription or bulk discounts ^32,33 Current. Awarded +6 because Gatorade's direct pages disclose unit prices, order quantities, and discount tiers without evidence of hidden fees in this audit. · full weight
• +4 Bulk discounts available for teams and high-volume buyers ^32,33 Current. Awarded +4 within the +3 to +6 range because direct pages show 5% to 25% bulk or subscription-style savings depending on product and volume. · full weight

Starts at 60, ends at 83.

• +8 High retailer review signal for sampled Pro Series product ²⁸ Walmart reviews visible in 2026, including reviews from 2025 and 2026. Awarded +8 in the retailer-rating spirit of the Amazon high-rating rubric because the sampled product shows 4.6 out of 5 across 793 ratings, but not the full +12 because this is one retailer and one product page. · full weight
• +7 Generally positive expert-review sentiment with clear caveats ^29,30,31 2024 to 2026 reviews. Awarded +7 because Garage Gym Reviews and BarBend describe Muscle Milk as useful, high-protein, and widely available, while also flagging calories, artificial ingredients, taste, and serving-size caveats. · full weight
• +8 Strong athlete and sports-marketing presence ^5,38,39 2022 to 2026 official and campaign sources. Awarded +8 because Muscle Milk is an official NFL sports protein drink sponsor and has athlete campaigns with Candace Parker, Julio Rodriguez, Christian Pulisic, and Ilona Maher. This is strong influencer presence, but it is not the same as organic practitioner adoption. · full weight