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Ensure Vanilla Flavour
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 2.3 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This adult weight-management meal replacement is formulated with a blend of macronutrients and fortified with vitamins and minerals to serve as a meal substitute. While it provides essential nutrients, it contains both sucrose and maltodextrin as primary carbohydrate sources, contributing to a high total sugar content. The use of 'Nature Identical And Artificial Flavoring Substances' also limits transparency regarding the specific flavor compounds. It is intended for adults under medical or dietary supervision and is not suitable for children.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Skimmed Milk Powder
- Fructo-oligosaccharide
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Antioxidant (mixed tocopherol)
High in added sugars; contains artificial flavorings
The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This adult meal replacement shake contains significant amounts of added sugars from sucrose and maltodextrin. It also includes artificial flavorings, which means the specific compounds used for the vanilla taste are not disclosed. While fortified with essential nutrients, individuals managing sugar intake or seeking full ingredient transparency should be aware of these aspects. It is formulated for adults and should be used under medical or dietary supervision.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Looking for a lower-sugar option — Added sugar is 14.8 g and total sugar is 35 g per 100 g.
Declared allergens: Milk
Relevant if you have this allergy or intolerance.
Based on the declared ingredient list. This is a risk only to people with the allergy, not a general-population safety issue, so it does not lower the safety score.
Personal check · free
Is this right for you or your family?
Just checking whether the product is safe? The analysis above is yours, no account needed. To know if it is safe for you, your father or your child, add a profile and we check this label against them. This one declares Milk, so it matters if anyone in your family reacts to that.
- Allergies. Peanut, milk, gluten, egg and more, checked against the ingredient list.
- Diet. Vegetarian, vegan, Jain, no egg, no dairy.
- Health and goals. Sugar, salt, protein, steady blood sugar, heart-friendly, weight.
- Everyone you buy for. Save a profile for Papa or the kids and switch in one tap.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for supplement. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Saturated fat 4 g · trans fat 0.2 g per 100 g/ml
1 concern could not be assessed from this label. That means we don't know — not that there's nothing to find.
Other audiences
AvoidThis is a weight-management meal replacement (Food for Special Dietary Use), formulated for adults. It is not intended for infants or children, and the pack directs that it be used under medical or dietary supervision.
Why the score is capped
Highly processed (NOVA) and high total sugar
Rule F-CAP-07
What's good
Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for nutritional completeness
Contains prebiotic fiber (Fructo-oligosaccharide) for gut health
Skimmed milk powder provides protein and calcium
Watch out for
High total sugar content from sucrose and maltodextrin
Contains artificial flavoring substances, limiting transparency
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Flavouring Substances
Indian rules classify added flavours as natural, nature-identical (chemically synthesised copies of natural compounds) or artificial, and require the class to be declared. The label names the class, not the compounds, so a reader cannot see which substances make up the blend, or whether it carries something they avoid. This is information about transparency, not a finding of harm.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, flavours; FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020
Flavouring Substances: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Flavouring Substances: A flavour blend; its individual compounds are not listed on the label, limiting transparency.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
The term 'balanced nutrition' is a general health claim that cannot be objectively verified from the provided ingredient and nutrition information alone.
Clinical claims require external studies or documentation not present on the product label to be verified.
The claim of supporting 'Strength' is a general health benefit that cannot be objectively verified from the provided ingredient and nutrition information alone.
The claim of supporting 'Immunity' is a general health benefit that cannot be objectively verified from the provided ingredient and nutrition information alone.
The claim of supporting 'Energy' is a general health benefit that cannot be objectively verified from the provided ingredient and nutrition information alone.
The designation 'Health Supplement' is a regulatory classification that cannot be verified from the ingredient list or nutrition facts alone.
The nutrition information lists 32 distinct vitamins and minerals, supporting the claim of 32 nutrients.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
-
1.
Skimmed milk powder
-
2.
Maltodextrinmaltodextrin
-
3.
Sucrosesucrose
-
4.
Edible vegetable oiledible vegetable oil (high oleic sunflower oil, soy oil)
-
5.
Fructo-oligosaccharide 4%fructo-oligosaccharide (4.0%)
-
6.
Flavorings (Nature Identical And Artificial Flavoring Substances-Vanilla)flavorings (Nature Identical And Artificial Flavoring Substances-Vanilla)
-
7.
MineralsMINERALS**
-
8.
VitaminsVITAMINS***
-
9.
Antioxidant (mixed tocopherol)antioxidant (mixed tocopherol)
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
These are major food allergens named on the ingredient list. They are a risk only to people allergic to them — not a general-population safety issue — so they do not lower the safety score. Anyone with the allergy should avoid this product, and check the pack’s own allergen statement.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 423 kcal |
| Protein | 15.1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 62.38 g |
| Total Sugars | 35 g |
| Added Sugars | 14.8 g |
| Total Fat | 11.5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 4 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.2 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 3.4 g |
| Sodium | 314 mg |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 4.5 g |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids | 2.6 g |
| Cholesterol | 50 mg |
| FOS | 3.4 g |
| Vitamin A (palmitate) | 422 mcg RE |
| Vitamin D2 | 7 mcg |
| Vitamin E | 7 mg |
| Vitamin K | 24 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 28.1 mg |
| Folic acid | 95 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.7 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 1 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.7 mcg |
| Niacin | 7.33 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 3.5 mg |
| Biotin | 21.1 mcg |
| Choline | 108 mg |
| Potassium | 600 mg |
| Chloride | 550 mg |
| Calcium | 421 mg |
| Phosphorus | 421 mg |
| Magnesium | 72 mg |
| Iron | 8 mg |
| Zinc | 3.5 mg |
| Manganese | 1.3 mg |
| Copper | 410 mcg |
| Iodine | 32.6 mcg |
| Selenium | 18.8 mcg |
| Chromium | 15 mcg |
| Molybdenum | 30 mcg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.
Compare with other meal replacement products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
Optifast Weight Management Shake
6.0optifast
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Serious Mass Vanilla Flavour
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Lipton Metabolism Boost with 150mg Green Tea Catechins and 50mg ACV
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What are the ingredients in Ensure Vanilla Flavour?
The label of Ensure Vanilla Flavour lists 9 ingredients, in label order: Skimmed Milk Powder, Maltodextrin, Sucrose, Edible Vegetable Oil, Fructo-oligosaccharide, Flavorings (Nature Identical And Artificial Flavoring Substances-Vanilla), Minerals, Vitamins, Antioxidant (mixed tocopherol). Flagged by the analysis: Sucrose, Flavorings (Nature Identical And Artificial Flavoring Substances-Vanilla), Maltodextrin.
Is Ensure Vanilla Flavour safe to eat?
Ensure Vanilla Flavour scores 2.3/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This adult meal replacement shake contains significant amounts of added sugars from sucrose and maltodextrin. It also includes artificial flavorings, which means the specific compounds used for the vanilla taste are not disclosed. While fortified with essential nutrients, individuals managing sugar intake or seeking full ingredient transparency should be aware of these aspects. It is formulated for adults and should be used under medical or dietary supervision.
Why does Ensure Vanilla Flavour score 2.3/10?
Flagged in the score: High total sugar content from sucrose and maltodextrin. Also noted: Contains artificial flavoring substances, limiting transparency.
Who should avoid Ensure Vanilla Flavour?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Managing high sugar intake; Sensitive to artificial flavorings; Seeking full flavor transparency; Milk allergy / lactose intolerance.
Does Ensure Vanilla Flavour contain allergens?
Yes — the ingredient list contains milk (Skimmed Milk Powder). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.
Does Ensure Vanilla Flavour contain milk?
Yes — the ingredient list names Skimmed Milk Powder. People with milk allergy / lactose intolerance should treat it as containing milk, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Is Ensure Vanilla Flavour high in sugar?
Yes — 35 g of total sugar per 100 g, above the 22.5 g per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high. The label declares 14.8 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Are the claims on the Ensure Vanilla Flavour pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 7 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "Balanced Nutrition For Adults" — can't be verified from the label. "CLINICALLY PROVEN~ TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL STATUS" — can't be verified from the label. "Vital nutrients to support Strength*" — can't be verified from the label.
Is Ensure Vanilla Flavour vegetarian?
Ensure Vanilla Flavour is marked vegetarian.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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