Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate (Unflavored)

1. Ingredients 35% of the rating 4 of 5

   Two ingredients: grass-fed whey protein isolate and 100 mg of sunflower lecithin, nothing artificial.

2. Independent testing 35% of the rating 4 of 5

   NSF and Informed Choice listings plus two lot reports with lead 0.16 to 0.23 µg a scoop, but the labs are paid by the maker, one report is preliminary and no independent figure is published for this whey.

3. Sourcing 10% of the rating 3 of 5

   Grass-fed American dairy cattle is stated; no farm, certifier or audit is named.

4. Trust 10% of the rating 3 of 5

   Two 2025 Prop 65 lead notices name other products, the page names sponsored athletes, and its lot report is marked preliminary.

5. Value 10% of the rating 4 of 5

   $1.79 for 25 g of protein at 4 lb, among the lowest of the powders we reviewed.

The rating, 3.8 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank protein powders & shakes and our standard.

• The Vitamin Shoppe (opens in a new tab) approx. $65 for the 2.2 lb (30-servings) pack. The same unflavored whey isolate, but only in the smaller 2.2 lb (30 servings) pack, not the 4 lb this page prices; we found no 4 lb pack at this store. In stock on 2026-11-03.

Prices as we saw them on October 23, 2026. They change often. These links carry no tracking code and earn us nothing.

1. Grass-fed whey protein isolate
2. Sunflower lecithin

• Paid certification NSF Certified for Sport

  Lists the unflavored powder (id 1756600; 999 g and 1,831.5 g packs; four lots) and marks it free of artificial sweeteners and flavors. NSF’s program checks banned substances, label accuracy and contaminants against its own limits. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Paid certification Informed Choice October 2026

  Its October 2026 list names a Transparent Labs “Whey Protein Isolate” among 51 Transparent Labs products. We could not see which flavors or sizes it covers. Informed Choice tests for banned substances, not for lead or other contaminants. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Maker’s own test Advanced Laboratories, for Transparent Labs August 2026

  Lot 26081254 of the unflavored isolate, marked “Preliminary Results” and labeled for the 30-serving pack: per 33.3 g, lead 0.23 µg, cadmium 0.03 µg, total arsenic 0.17 µg, mercury under 0.03 µg. Salmonella and S. aureus absent; the E. coli line is blank. The certificate has no completion or approval date. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Paid certification Labdoor (lab: Light Labs; Labdoor also sells paid certifications and links one for this lot) August 2026

  Lot 2604634 of the 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate, flavor not stated (its certificate gives a 34.9 g scoop, not the unflavored 33.3 g): protein 28.12 g found for 28 g claimed; lead 0.16 µg, cadmium 0.35 µg, arsenic 0.1 µg, mercury not detected per serving. Labdoor score 98.6 of 100. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Independent Consumer Reports October 2025

  Tested the brand’s Mass Gainer (Sweet Vanilla), not this isolate: lead 0.43 µg a serving, 87% of CR’s 0.5 µg level of concern. CR did not test the whey. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Independent ConsumerLab (subscription-funded) April 2026

  Tested Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed, Milk Chocolate, among 21 protein powders. The results are for members only, and its free summary does not say which products passed. We could not see this one. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Independent Clean Label Project 2025 protein study (a nonprofit that also sells certifications) 2025

  Bought 165 protein powders off the shelf and had them tested by an ISO 17025 lab. Its list includes “Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate” (filed under NutraHoldings; flavor not stated). It is not among the Clean Sixteen powders that were non-detect for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, which CLP says does not mean a product exceeds any limit. CLP publishes no per-product figures, so we have no number. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are the lot reports independent?

No. Transparent Labs orders them from Advanced Laboratories, and Light Labs, the lab behind Labdoor’s report, says on its site (opens in a new tab) that Transparent Labs is a customer. The one report we opened is marked “Preliminary Results”. The NSF listing is the outside check.

Is there lead in it?

The two reports we saw for the isolate show 0.16 and 0.23 µg a scoop, under Consumer Reports’ (opens in a new tab) 0.5 µg level. CR found 0.43 µg in the brand’s Mass Gainer, and two 2025 Prop 65 notices name other products. Lots differ, so match yours to the posted reports.

Does it pay athletes and influencers?

Its own product page (opens in a new tab) says it is backed by athletes such as Paul Sklar and Hafthor Bjornsson. We found no ownership stake, and no lawsuit, FDA letter or recall against the brand.

What about the “natural flavors” in the flavored versions?

The unflavored powder has none. The maker says its natural flavors come from plants, fruits or spices and that the label does not have to name them.

Is it really grass-fed?

Transparent Labs says the dairy cattle are American and grass-fed. No certifier or farm is named, and we could not check it.

• The 4 lb label is two ingredients, grass-fed whey protein isolate (33.2 g) and sunflower lecithin (100 mg), with 28 g of protein, 0 g of added sugar and 130 calories a scoop.
• NSF’s Certified for Sport database lists the unflavored powder (id 1756600; four lots) and marks it free of artificial sweeteners and flavors. Informed Choice’s October 2026 list also names a Transparent Labs “Whey Protein Isolate”.
• Transparent Labs posts a certificate of analysis by lot. The unflavored report we opened (lot 26081254, August 2026) shows per 33.3 g serving: lead 0.23 µg, cadmium 0.03 µg, total arsenic 0.17 µg and mercury under 0.03 µg. Labdoor’s report on a lot of the isolate found lead at 0.16 µg.
• Consumer Reports said that, of the brands it tested, only Momentous and Transparent Labs told it they publish results on their websites.
• At $109.99 for 55 servings it costs about $2.00 a serving, or $1.79 for 25 g of protein, among the lowest of the powders we reviewed.

• The lot reports are ordered and paid for by Transparent Labs. The one we read is stamped “Preliminary Results” and labeled for the 30-serving pack, not the 4 lb tub. The lab behind Labdoor’s report, Light Labs, lists Transparent Labs as a customer.
• No independent lead figure is published for this whey. Consumer Reports tested the brand’s Mass Gainer (0.43 µg of lead a serving), ConsumerLab tested the Milk Chocolate whey in April 2026 and Clean Label Project bought a Transparent Labs whey isolate for its 2025 study, but none shows a figure for this whey.
• NSF’s lead limit, 10 µg a day as Consumer Reports describes it, is far looser than CR’s 0.5 µg, and Informed Choice tests for banned substances, not lead.
• “Sourced exclusively from grass-fed American dairy cattle” is the maker’s wording. No certifier or farm is named.
• Two 2025 Prop 65 lead notices name other Transparent Labs products (Hydrate electrolytes, one of them settled, and Prebiotic Greens). We found none for the whey. Flavored versions add natural flavors, which we did not review.

Third-party tested

Yes

Tested by

NSF Certified for Sport; Informed Choice

Certificate of analysis

Yes

1. Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate product page. Maker’s page. Prices and sizes seen 2026-10-23. The unflavored 4 lb label (ingredients, 55 servings) is an image on the page. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
2. Transparent Labs unflavored 4 lb label (Nutrition Facts and ingredients). Maker’s page. Ingredients: grass-fed whey protein isolate (33.2 g), sunflower lecithin (100 mg). Contains milk. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
3. Transparent Labs third-party tests page. Maker’s page. Search by product name to see certificates of analysis by lot. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
4. Certificate of analysis, Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored, lot 26081254. Test report. Posted by Transparent Labs; run by Advanced Laboratories. Marked “Preliminary Results” and labeled for the 30-serving size. The E. coli result is blank. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
5. Labdoor report: Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate. Test report. Lot 2604634, score 98.6. Labdoor sells products and brand certifications; its business model page says it does not accept manufacturer samples for rankings. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
6. Labdoor certificate for lot 2604634. Test report. Lab: Light Labs. Gives a 34.9 g scoop and a release date of August 7, 2025, while the report page says August 2026. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
7. NSF Certified for Sport listing: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored. Certifier or regulator listing. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
8. Informed Choice: list of currently certified products (October 2026). Certifier or regulator listing. Lists 51 Transparent Labs products, including a “Whey Protein Isolate”. Flavors and sizes are not shown on the list. Transparent Labs is not on the Informed Sport list. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
9. Light Labs: testing platform for brands. Independent source. Lists Transparent Labs and Momentous among the brands it serves. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
10. Consumer Reports: FAQ on its protein powder lead tests. Test report. Says only Momentous and Transparent Labs told CR they publish results. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
11. Consumer Reports test results (PDF), including Transparent Labs Mass Gainer. Test report. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
12. ConsumerLab: protein powders and shakes review, news release (April 30, 2026). Test report. Names the 21 products tested, including Transparent Labs Milk Chocolate. Per-product results are members only. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
13. Clean Label Project: protein powder category tested products (2025). Test report. Lists the 165 products bought and tested, including “NutraHoldings: Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate”. Shows no per-product figures. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
14. Clean Label Project: Clean Sixteen protein powders (June 2025). Test report. The 16 powders that were non-detect for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Transparent Labs is not among them. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
15. California Attorney General 60-day notices naming Transparent Labs. Certifier or regulator listing. Searched 2026-10-23. Results are for Hydrate and Prebiotic Greens, not the whey. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

• Puori PW1 Grass-Fed Whey (unflavored) One ingredient, with per-batch reports showing no detectable lead, from a lab paid through Clean Label Project. About $2.74 for 25 g of protein.
• Momentous Whey Protein Isolate (unflavored) Also NSF-listed with lot reports online; lead was under 0.05 µg a serving in the two whey lots we read. About $3.50 for 25 g of protein.
• Levels Grass-Fed Whey (unflavored) A concentrate with a Clean Label Project certificate and no NSF listing. About $2.07 for 25 g of protein at 2 lb.

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