Core Power Vanilla Protein Milk Shake: 26g Protein but 26g Added Sugar, Labelgrade C+
Labelgrade: C+ 67 / 100 — Functionally high-protein flavored milk. Real lowfat milk as the base + cane sugar + honey for sweetness + small amounts of stabilizers and vitamins. The clean side: no sucralose, no aspartame, no acesulfame, no carrageenan-free... wait, it has carrageenan. But no artificial sweeteners. The dirty side: 26 g of added sugar per bottle — among the highest in our database. This is closer to chocolate milk with extra protein than to an engineered protein shake. Pick if you want real milk + real sugar; pick something else if low-sugar is the priority.
Quick Facts
Per serving · 1 bottle (11.5 fl oz / 340 mL)
The short answer
Core Power Vanilla High Protein Milk Shake delivers 26 g of protein in 241 calories per 11.5 fl oz bottle (USDA FDC 1872220) — from real filtered lowfat milk with added cane sugar and honey for sweetness, no artificial sweeteners. The trade-off: 26 g of total sugar per bottle, of which roughly 9-10 g is added. The Labelgrade is C+ (67 / 100): clean ingredient strategy with real milk and recognizable sweeteners, but the added-sugar load drags the overall score below Premier or Quest despite the cleaner sweetener list.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | C | 62 / 100 | 7.6 g per 100 mL — typical for an RTD shake; formula scores liquids per unit volume, which understates per-bottle delivery |
| Ingredient quality | B+ | 80 / 100 | Real lowfat Grade A milk as the first ingredient. Cane sugar and honey instead of artificial sweeteners. Vanilla extract instead of “natural flavors only.” Vitamin A + D3 fortification. Carrageenan as a stabilizer. Sodium polyphosphate (only one phosphate, vs Premier’s three) |
| Sugar load | F | 35 / 100 | 26 g total per bottle (7.6 g per 100 mL). Roughly 17 g is natural lactose + 9 g added. Higher added sugar than any other product in our database |
| Sodium load | A+ | 95 / 100 | 119 mg per bottle (35 mg per 100 mL) — among the lowest in our database |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0 g, expected for milk-based shakes |
| Overall | C+ | 67 / 100 | Real-milk protein shake that prioritizes ingredient simplicity over low-sugar. If you want a sweetened convenience protein with no artificial sweeteners, this is one of the few options. If sugar minimization matters, Premier or Quest score higher |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per bottle | Calories | Sugar | Ingredients | Sweetener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Power Vanilla (this product) | 26 g | 241 | 26 g | 10 | Cane sugar + honey |
| Premier Protein Vanilla (11.5 fl oz) | 30 g | 159 | 1 g | ~30 | Sucralose + acesulfame K |
| Quest Vanilla Protein Shake (11 fl oz) | 30 g | 159 | 1 g | 10 | Sucralose |
| Plain whole milk (340 mL) | 11 g | 207 | 17 g | 1 | None (natural lactose) |
Core Power is essentially “plain milk + 15 g more protein from MPC + 9 g added sugar + vitamin fortification.” If that’s the goal — real milk-tasting protein with real sweetness — Core Power fills a niche Premier and Quest can’t. If the goal is protein-per-calorie efficiency, Premier and Quest dominate this comparison.
Whole-food equivalent
One Core Power Vanilla shake (26 g protein, 241 cal) equals roughly:
- 84 g of cooked chicken breast (3 oz) at 130 cal — almost half the calories for the same protein, but no carb/calcium delivery
- 145 g of Fage Total 0% Greek yogurt (130 cal) + a teaspoon of honey
- 2 cups of regular skim milk (160 cal, 16 g protein) — less protein, more volume, lower cost
Scope
This page covers Core Power Vanilla High Protein Milk Shake in the 11.5 fl oz / 340 mL single-bottle size (UPC 856312002221, USDA FDC 1872220). Core Power also makes Chocolate, Strawberry Banana, Banana, and Salted Caramel flavors with similar macros; the “Elite” sub-line packs 42 g of protein per 14 fl oz bottle. Per-bottle protein and sugar vary by SKU. Always check the actual bottle label.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Filtered lowfat Grade A milk, cane sugar, honey, contains less than 1% of vanilla extract, green tea extract, lactase enzyme, sodium polyphosphate, carrageenan, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3.
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 bottle (11.5 fl oz / 340 mL)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 241 |
| Protein | 26g |
| Total Fat | 3.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 26g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 26g |
| Sodium | 119mg |
| Cholesterol | 14mg |
| Calcium | 700mg |
| Potassium | 340mg |
Where to buy
The links below are affiliate links — buying through them may earn Labelgrade a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure. The Labelgrade score is not affected by affiliate relationships — see methodology.
Search links are convenience links that may not land on the exact product variant we covered. Always verify the package label (size, UPC) before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in a Core Power Vanilla shake?
26 grams of protein per 11.5 fl oz (340 mL) bottle (USDA FDC 1872220). Less than Premier or Quest (both at 30 g per bottle) but from a meaningfully different formulation.
How many calories per bottle?
241 calories — substantially more than Premier (159) or Quest (159) because Core Power has 26 g of sugar from cane sugar and honey, not 1 g.
Does Core Power contain artificial sweeteners?
No. Core Power is sweetened with cane sugar and honey — both natural sweeteners, but both add to the sugar count. No sucralose, no acesulfame, no aspartame, no stevia. This is a deliberate brand positioning: 'real milk, real sugar' rather than 'engineered low-cal protein.'
Why does Core Power have so much sugar?
Because it's flavored milk with extra protein, not an engineered protein shake. The base is filtered lowfat Grade A milk (~12 g of natural lactose per bottle), and Core Power adds cane sugar and honey for sweetness on top of that. The 26 g of total sugars per bottle include both the natural lactose and the added sweeteners.
How does Core Power compare to Premier Protein?
Different products with the same form factor. Premier: 30 g protein, 159 cal, 1 g sugar, ~30 ingredients including sucralose + acesulfame K. Core Power: 26 g protein, 241 cal, 26 g sugar, 10 ingredients including cane sugar + honey, no artificial sweeteners. Pick Premier for low-cal high-protein; pick Core Power for clean ingredients + don't mind the sugar.
Is the 26g of sugar all added?
Most of it. Core Power's USDA entry doesn't break out added vs natural, but reverse-engineering: a 340 mL serving of 1% milk contains about 17 g of natural lactose; Core Power's 26 g total minus ~17 g lactose ≈ 9-10 g added sugar from cane sugar + honey. Still substantial added sugar.
Why is the calcium so high?
700 mg per bottle (54% DV) because the base is real milk — all naturally-occurring calcium, not from a fortification premix.
Is it lactose-free?
No — but it contains lactase enzyme, which breaks down some of the lactose during shelf storage. Many people with mild lactose sensitivity tolerate Core Power despite the milk base.
Is it 'high in protein' under FDA rules?
Yes — 26 g per serving is 52% of the FDA 50 g Daily Value, well above the 20% threshold.
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Sources
- USDA · ID 1872220 · accessed 2026-05-27
- MANUFACTURER · accessed 2026-05-27
Last verified: 2026-05-27