The jury went to work on Premier Protein, and the verdict is in – almost literally. Premier Protein is in trouble for its misleading label claims on its protein shakes. Not only that, but the shakes may not be all they’re cracked up to be when it comes to helping you lose weight. Here is the story.

Legal Trouble for Premier Protein

Premier Protein sells all kinds of protein shakes. The ones whose labels state that they have 30 grams of protein per serving are the ones in the settlement. Analysis has found that they have 26 to 29 grams. The flavors that are in the settlement are Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberries & Cream, Banana & Cream, Peaches & Cream, Cookies & Cream, Mixed Berry, Organic Chocolate, Organic Vanilla, and Caramel.

While the company is not admitting wrongdoing or ceasing the sale of these products, there is a class action settlement. You may be eligible for a cash payout if you purchased any of the misleading shakes in the past 7 years, since 2011. Pre-op or post-op, you need to know how much protein is in your shakes.

Not Best for Bariatric Patients

Every gram of protein counts, but the deception in amount of protein per serving is not the only problem. Even if you are willing to overlook the shortfall in the amount of protein, Premier Protein has a problem with type of protein.

Read the ingredients carefully, and you will see that less than 1% of the product is “whey protein concentrate.” Whey protein is the type of protein that you should be looking for because it absorbs more quickly than casein. Whey protein has been shown to increase weight loss and body fat loss in bariatric surgery patients.

Another glance at the list of ingredients of Premier Protein shows that “milk protein concentrate” and “casein” are the major sources of protein. Casein is slow-acting. If you had a bariatric surgery type, such as gastric bypass, that interferes with absorption, you may not get all the benefits from casein.

What’s Better?

We know that you need a protein supplement, so what can you find that has the amount and type of protein you need and the great taste that will encourage you to take care of your needs? BariatricPal Protein One gets our vote.

• 27 grams of whey protein.
• 28 vitamins and minerals.
• Great-tasting French Vanilla, Cinnamon Swirl, and Double Chocolate Fudge.

It has a few more advantages over Premier Protein.

• Over twice as much dietary fiber for fullness and digestive health.
• Choose from convenient single-serving packets or multi-serving tubs.
• Comes in powder so you can add water or your favorite beverage.
• Has an “unflavored” option so you can add it to anything, from soup to smoothies.

When it comes to bariatric products, quality counts. Any purchase you make should be from a trusted source because there are a lot of poor-quality or misleading products out there. The few grams of difference between Premier Protein’s claims and reality may not be a lot, but along with the poor choice of casein instead of whey as the main protein source, you might want to seek another source for your protein. Look for a trusted vendor and name brand as you make your choice. What you put in your body really does matter.

I think we should all continue to follow the recommendations of our doctors and nutritionist.

I had GS in 2014 and my insurance actually paid for me to have Premier shakes sent to me. They are the only ones I have found to taste the best and I did lose weight on them.

What can A lactose intolerant person like me use?

Protein Shortfall: A class-action settlement resulted from the shakes' purported 30 grams of protein being only 26 to 29 grams.  Incorrect Protein Type: Casein, a slow-absorbing milk protein concentration, is the primary ingredient in the shakes. For bariatric patients who require quick absorption for the best outcomes, this is thought to be less effective than whey protein.