The Protein Label Numbers
"High protein" and "certified" are label words used loosely across the supplement aisle. This page is the normalized decoder: the protein-per-dollar formula, isolate-vs-concentrate weight-percentage ranges, amino-spiking red flags, proprietary-blend disclosure rules, and what each certification program (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, USP Verified, GMP) actually tests. It is a reference dataset, not a buying guide, and not health advice — pair it with a specific product's own label and certifier listing.
The one thing to know: Protein-per-dollar is arithmetic, not opinion: take the grams of protein per serving from the Supplement Facts panel, divide by the price-band midpoint, and you get a value class you can compare across brands regardless of tub size or scoop count. A tub that looks cheaper per-pound can be more expensive per gram of actual protein once you do this math — and the reverse is just as common.
The decoder table
| Label term | Rule / range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Protein-per-dollar value class | grams protein/serving ÷ price-band midpoint = value score | A comparable cost-per-gram-of-protein figure across brands and tub sizes |
| Whey isolate | ~90%+ protein by weight (label-stated, brand-dependent) | Further-filtered; typically lower fat/carb/lactose per serving |
| Whey concentrate | ~70–80% protein by weight (label-stated, brand-dependent) | Less-filtered; typically higher fat/carb/lactose per serving |
| Casein (micellar) | ~80–90% protein by weight (label-stated) | Labeled 'slow release' structure — a compositional claim, not a verified health claim |
| Single-source plant protein | ~70–85% protein by weight (source-dependent) | Often disclosed as lower in one or more essential amino acids per label |
| Amino spiking (glycine/taurine/creatine) | Listed inside 'protein blend' parentheses, not separately dosed | Inflates nitrogen-based protein test without contributing complete protein |
| Proprietary blend | Combined weight only; ingredients in descending order by weight | Shows what's in the blend and rank order, not individual amounts |
| NSF Certified for Sport | Finished-lot banned-substance testing + label-claim verification | Third-party program; verify at nsfsport.com |
| Informed Sport | Finished-lot banned-substance testing + label-claim verification (LGC) | Similar scope, different certifying body |
| USP Verified | Verifies labeled ingredients/amounts, contaminant limits, proper breakdown | Historically broader supplement-category program |
| GMP-only claim | Facility manufacturing-practices claim (21 CFR 111) | Not a finished-product test of a specific lot |
| Undefined scoop weight | Each brand sets its own gram-per-scoop | Compare protein grams to stated serving weight in grams, not scoop count |
| Uncertified 'grass fed' | No mandatory federal definition since 2016 | Self-defined marketing term unless a named third-party certifier is cited |
| Sugar alcohol line | Separate Nutrition Facts line from 'Total Sugars' | Can be excluded from front-label 'net carb' math |
| 'Net carbs' claim | Not a defined Nutrition Facts line item | Brand's own total-carb-minus-fiber calculation |
| Creapure (trademarked creatine) | AlzChem-manufactured creatine monohydrate, licensed purity program | Sourcing/purity distinction, not a different compound |
| Creatine blend/formula | Combines monohydrate with other forms inside one blend line | Reintroduces proprietary-blend opacity |
Protein-per-dollar math, step by step
- Find grams of protein per serving on the Supplement Facts panel.
- Find servings per container (also on the panel) and multiply: total grams of protein in the container.
- Take the product's approximate price BAND (we never publish exact prices, since they change constantly) and use the band's midpoint.
- Divide the price-band midpoint by total grams of protein: that is your cost-per-gram-of-protein value score, comparable across brands regardless of tub size or scoop count.
See the full walkthrough with worked examples at How to Calculate Protein Per Dollar.
Amino-spiking red-flag checklist
- Open the ingredient list and find any "protein blend" or "proprietary blend" parentheses.
- Check whether glycine, taurine, or creatine appears inside that blend rather than as a separately listed, individually dosed ingredient.
- Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight — an amino acid listed near the top of a blend is a stronger red flag than one listed last.
- Cross-check the label's total protein-per-serving number against the source proteins listed (whey/casein/soy/etc.) — a number that looks high relative to a short list of complete-protein sources is worth a closer ingredient-list read.
Full explainer: What Is Amino Spiking and How to Spot It.
Certification decoder
NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport both test finished-product lots against banned-substance lists (WADA-referenced) and verify label-claim accuracy — verifiable in each program's own public database. USP Verified checks labeled ingredients/amounts, contaminant limits, and proper breakdown. "GMP" alone is a facility manufacturing-practices claim under 21 CFR 111, not a finished-product test. Full page: What Does NSF Certified for Sport Actually Certify?
Serving-size games
A "scoop" has no standardized weight — each brand defines its own. Always compare protein grams to the STATED serving weight in grams on the Supplement Facts panel, not the scoop count or front-label marketing.
Caveats — read before citing a number
- Ranges are label-stated and brand-dependent. The isolate/concentrate percentages above are typical ranges seen on labels, not a guarantee for any specific SKU — always check that product's own Supplement Facts panel.
- Certification is per-product, per-lot. A certification mark on packaging should be verified against the certifier's own public database by product name, not assumed from the logo alone.
- This table is label terminology and arithmetic, not a health or nutrition recommendation. It reports what terms and programs mean, not medical guidance.
- Regulations and programs get revised. FDA labeling rules and certifier standards are periodically updated; this dataset reflects our understanding as of the version date below.
Methodology & versioning
Version 1.0 — published July 30, 2026. Facts are drawn from FDA dietary supplement labeling regulations (21 CFR 101, 111), USDA's grass-fed marketing claim withdrawal notice, and the certifying bodies' own published program standards and public databases (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport/LGC, USP Verified), cross-checked against our standard-by-standard guides. We do not lab-test products ourselves; this is a label-and-certification-facts reference. Corrections: if a rule or program changes, this page and the CSV below are updated in place and the version/date bumped — see How We Evaluate for our full editorial policy.
Machine-readable download: the full table is available as CSV at /protein-label-numbers.csv, and a condensed digest is maintained in /llms-full.txt.
License: This dataset is published under CC BY 4.0 — reuse it with attribution.
How to cite: Label Lab. "The Protein Label Numbers" (v1.0), July 30, 2026.
https://label-lab.pages.dev/protein-label-numbers/
This page is general label-terminology reference information, not a health, nutrition, or safety determination for any specific product or individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
A normalized reference table of protein and supplement label terms — protein-per-dollar math, isolate/concentrate weight-percentage ranges, amino-spiking red flags, certification-program scope, and serving-size/net-carb label rules — with the FDA/certifier source for each. It exists because 'high protein' and 'certified' are used loosely; this table pins down what each specific term actually means on a label.
Grams of protein per serving (from the Supplement Facts panel) divided by the container's price-band midpoint, adjusted for servings per container, yields a cost-per-gram-of-protein figure comparable across brands regardless of tub size or scoop count.
No. It is a label-terminology and arithmetic reference — what specific words, percentages, and certification programs mean on a Supplement Facts panel or ingredient list. It makes no claims about what you should consume, in what amount, or for what purpose; consult a physician or registered dietitian for guidance specific to you.
FDA dietary supplement labeling regulations (21 CFR 101 and 111), USDA's withdrawn grass-fed marketing standard notice, and the certifying bodies' own published program standards (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport/LGC, USP Verified), cross-checked against our guides.
No. This table normalizes what each label term and certification program generally means. Certification status is granted per product, per lot — the only way to know a specific product's status is to look it up by name in the certifying body's own public database.