{"id":606419190066,"title":"Gold Standard Whey Protein Review: Is the Best-Selling Protein Superior?","created_at":"2023-09-27T23:53:48-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Gold Standard Whey Protein Review: Is the Best-Selling Protein Superior?\",\n \"keywords\": \"gold standard whey protein, gold standard whey protein review, gold standard whey protein reviews, optimum nutrition gold standard whey protein, gold standard protein, is gold standard whey good\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein based on medical studies to determine if it's a good choice for muscle building and if it's healthy or not. We explain how Gold Standard performed in third-party testing.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/gold-standard-whey-protein-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Auren Weinberg\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/auren-weinberg\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aurenweinberg\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"pharmaceutical medication, medicine, OTC drugs, medical research, clinical trials, generic drugs, branded drugs, dietary supplements, chemistry, health, wellness, healthcare\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Haverford College\",\n \"University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry\",\n \"Fox School of Business at Temple University\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": 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[\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23899756\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22317828\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/body-fortress-whey-protein-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5464538\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.optimumnutrition.com\/en-us\/Products\/Shakes-%26-Powders\/OPTIMUM-NUTRITION-GOLD-STANDARD-100%25-WHEY-PROTEIN\/p\/gold-standard-100-whey-protein\",\n\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Optimum-Nutrition-Gold-Standard-100-Whey-Protein-Powder-Double-Rich-Chocoalte-5-lb-74-Servings\/32686992\",\n\"https:\/\/www.gnc.com\/optimum-nutrition\/350281.html\",\n\"https:\/\/choice.wetestyoutrust.com\/supplement-search\/optimum-nutrition\/gold-standard-100-whey\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/310-nutrition-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Optimum Nutrition\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"artifiical flavor\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"sucralose\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"yellow 5\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Vega\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Orgain\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Ghost\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"ImChillToo\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"GNC\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"ConsumerLab\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Informed Choice\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Google\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-09-28\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Gold_Standard_Whey_Protein_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1695873154\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eG\u003c\/span\u003eold Standard Whey is one of the most popular supplements sold by Optimum Nutrition. This protein is available in nearly every major retailer in the US, and the brand claims it’s “The World’s Best-Selling Whey Protein Powder.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut does Gold Standard Whey contain an effective protein dose? Does it have any unhealthy additives? How does the price compare to other popular whey protein powders? And how do real users rate and describe Gold Standard Whey?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Gold Standard Whey based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not it provides an effective protein dose and whether or not it’s healthy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll highlight some questionable additive ingredients, feature unsponsored customer reviews and provide a cost comparison to show both how the price-per-serving of Gold Standard Whey stacks up to other brands, and which retailer sells Gold Standard Whey for the best price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Optimum_Nutrition_Gold_Standard_Whey_Banana_Cream_Ingredients_Optimized_ac06c897-0144-484d-8116-cebb47188d16.png?v=1695874126\" alt=\"Optimum Nutrition Banana Cream ingredients\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in the Banana Cream flavor of Gold Standard Whey are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eProtein Blend\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the most important ingredient, and Gold Standard Whey \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eprovides 24 (g) of protein\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e per serving.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23899756\/\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23899756\/\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on protein supplementation for muscle growth concludes that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“...20-25 g of a high-quality protein maximizes the response of [muscle protein synthesis] following resistance exercise,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e so we consider Gold Standard to provide an effective protein dose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeyond the active ingredient (protein), this supplement contains a surprising number of additives that may be questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNatural and artificial flavor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is included, and artificial flavorings were shown to be toxic (at least to animals) in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22317828\/\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22317828\/\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eToxicology and Industrial Health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSucralose\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an artificial sweetener that’s clinically shown to have negative effects on inulin function, as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/body-fortress-whey-protein-review\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/body-fortress-whey-protein-review\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBody Fortress Whey Protein reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAcesulfame potassium\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another artificial sweetener that was shown in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5464538\/\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5464538\/\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eanimal studies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to disrupt gut function.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eYellow 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is an artificial colorant, and a 2012 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that some synthetic food dyes could cause cancer and could damage DNA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, we consider Gold Standard Whey Protein likely to support muscle growth due to its effective protein dose, but we do not currently recommend this brand due to the myriad questionable additives it contains.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn our opinion, this is one of the least healthy protein powders we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how does its price stack up to other popular brands? We’ll answer that question in the next section of this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIs Gold Standard Whey Affordable?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eProtein powders are sold at a wide variety of different serving sizes and protein doses, so to simplify our comparison, we’ll break down the cost per-gram of protein from Gold Standard and other popular brands, at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVega Protein Powder: $0.11\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOrgain Protein Powder: $0.09\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGhost Protein Powder: $0.07\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGold Standard Whey: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e$0.05\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGold Standard Whey outperforms on price, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular.\u003c\/strong\u003e This product is available for purchase in large tubs, and buying in bulk typically allows for cost savings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eReal People Try Gold Standard Whey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named “ImChillToo” has a video testing Gold Standard Whey that has over 100,000 views:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gzLLjSR64ko?si=-pkAfoDFVYOvF3nH\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Gabriel Duncan has a video sharing his experience taking Gold Standard Whey where he suggests the brand is a good choice for muscle gain and fat loss:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g_pgqJ_mfGA?si=pl92ptgzMc-okBfA\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhere to Buy Gold Standard for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGold Standard Whey is sold at a large number of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the 73-serving version at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $85.99 (free shipping, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optimumnutrition.com\/en-us\/Products\/Shakes-%26-Powders\/OPTIMUM-NUTRITION-GOLD-STANDARD-100%25-WHEY-PROTEIN\/p\/gold-standard-100-whey-protein\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.optimumnutrition.com\/en-us\/Products\/Shakes-%26-Powders\/OPTIMUM-NUTRITION-GOLD-STANDARD-100%25-WHEY-PROTEIN\/p\/gold-standard-100-whey-protein\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $84.99 (third-party seller, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Optimum-Nutrition-Gold-Standard-100-Whey-Protein-Powder-Double-Rich-Chocoalte-5-lb-74-Servings\/32686992\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Optimum-Nutrition-Gold-Standard-100-Whey-Protein-Powder-Double-Rich-Chocoalte-5-lb-74-Servings\/32686992\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGNC: $84.99 (free shipping, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gnc.com\/optimum-nutrition\/350281.html\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.gnc.com\/optimum-nutrition\/350281.html\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e$75.95 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/48HZ238\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/48HZ238\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOptimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is currently 12% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eImpressive Third-Party Test Results\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne major plus of Gold Standard Whey is that this protein brand has passed multiple different types of third-party testing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eConsumerLab, which is an independent testing organization that we trust, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etested the heavy metals in Gold Standard Whey and gave the brand a passing grade.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis whey protein powder has also been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/choice.wetestyoutrust.com\/supplement-search\/optimum-nutrition\/gold-standard-100-whey\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/choice.wetestyoutrust.com\/supplement-search\/optimum-nutrition\/gold-standard-100-whey\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInformed Choice Certified\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e for nearly 10 years, and this testing process ensures that the finished product contains no banned substances (like steroids).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/310-nutrition-review\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/310-nutrition-review\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e310 Nutrition reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esome popular protein supplements have been found to be high in lead, so all things being equal, a tested and certified product in this category is safer than an untested product.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile we don’t recommend Gold Standard for regular consumers, these test results may make the brand a good choice for elite athletes or any group that gets professionally drug-tested for steroids.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur Clean Protein Picks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Protein_Powder_Image_Optimized.png?v=1664075597\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/illuminatelabs\"\u003eBulletproof Collagen Protein\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is\u003c\/span\u003e our top protein powder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe main reason is its formulation: \u003cstrong\u003eBulletproof's protein powder only contains one single ingredient: collagen protein sourced from grass-fed animals.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAs the core structural protein in skin, supplemental collagen is also\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30681787\/\"\u003eclinically proven\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto reduce visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles, which is a secondary benefit not offered by other types of protein like milk protein.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Protein\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/illuminatelabs\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on Bulletproof's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovecomplement.com\/products\/complement-organic-vegan-plant-based-protein-unflavored?utm_source=illuminate\u0026amp;utm_medium=blog\u0026amp;utm_campaign=protein_un\u0026amp;utm_content=\u0026amp;aff=446\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eComplement Organic Protein\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top vegan protein powder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe only ingredients in this protein powder are a blend of nutritious plant proteins and zero unhealthy additives: organic yellow pea protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic almond protein, organic sunflower seed protein and organic chia seed protein.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brand also publishes third-party test results for label accuracy and contaminants which ensures product quality and is not common in the vegan protein market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Complement Organic Protein\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lovecomplement.com\/products\/complement-organic-vegan-plant-based-protein-unflavored?utm_source=illuminate\u0026amp;utm_medium=blog\u0026amp;utm_campaign=protein_un\u0026amp;utm_content=\u0026amp;aff=446\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth of the products mentioned in this section are entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider unhealthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eReal Customers Review Gold Standard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOptimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey has been reviewed over 215,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Andrei” who gives the product a 5\/5 star rating and likes the taste and product effects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“it has also helped me achieve my fitness goals. My muscles feel more toned, and I have noticed a significant increase in my energy levels during workouts. The taste is great, and it blends smoothly into my shakes without any clumps.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Gary Sites” who dislikes the taste:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“I've been using protein powders consistently for 45 years, and this powder is in the top 3 of the worst I've ever tried. The double chocolate flavor doesn't even taste like chocolate. Put it in water, and it tastes like dirt water.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOptimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey has a review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePros and Cons of Gold Standard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Gold Standard Whey in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePros:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEffective protein dose\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGreat price\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHighly positive online customer reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThird-party tested\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay be good choice for athletes who are steroid-tested\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCons:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains artificial sweeteners\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSome flavors contain artificial color\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains artificial flavor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGold Standard Whey is one of the leading protein powders on the market, but isn’t a brand we currently recommend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile this product provides an effective dose of protein for building muscle, it contains a range of questionable additives including artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eConsuming protein powder that's free of these additives would be a healthier choice in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOptimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is one of the most cost-effective protein powders on the market on a per-gram-of-protein basis. It’s twice as cheap as some other popular brands at the time of publishing this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnline customer reviews of this product are highly favorable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGold Standard Whey has passed both ConsumerLab and Informed Choice third-party testing, which ensures this supplement has low or non-existent heavy metals levels, and that it’s free of steroids. That makes this product potentially a good choice for athletes who get drug tested.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-09-27T23:59:26-04:00","updated_at":"2023-10-02T13:13:44-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein based on medical studies to determine if it's a good choice for muscle building and if it's healthy or not. We explain how Gold Standard performed in third-party testing.","template_suffix":"","handle":"gold-standard-whey-protein-review","tags":"_related:protein"}

Gold Standard Whey Protein Review: Is the Best-Selling Protein Superior?

Gold Standard Whey Protein Review: Is the Best-Selling Protein Superior?


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Gold Standard Whey is one of the most popular supplements sold by Optimum Nutrition. This protein is available in nearly every major retailer in the US, and the brand claims it’s “The World’s Best-Selling Whey Protein Powder.”

But does Gold Standard Whey contain an effective protein dose? Does it have any unhealthy additives? How does the price compare to other popular whey protein powders? And how do real users rate and describe Gold Standard Whey?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Gold Standard Whey based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not it provides an effective protein dose and whether or not it’s healthy.

We’ll highlight some questionable additive ingredients, feature unsponsored customer reviews and provide a cost comparison to show both how the price-per-serving of Gold Standard Whey stacks up to other brands, and which retailer sells Gold Standard Whey for the best price.

Ingredient Analysis

Optimum Nutrition Banana Cream ingredients

The ingredients in the Banana Cream flavor of Gold Standard Whey are shown above.

Protein Blend is the most important ingredient, and Gold Standard Whey provides 24 (g) of protein per serving.

A medical review on protein supplementation for muscle growth concludes that “...20-25 g of a high-quality protein maximizes the response of [muscle protein synthesis] following resistance exercise,” so we consider Gold Standard to provide an effective protein dose.

Beyond the active ingredient (protein), this supplement contains a surprising number of additives that may be questionable from a health perspective.

Natural and artificial flavor is included, and artificial flavorings were shown to be toxic (at least to animals) in a clinical trial published in the Toxicology and Industrial Health journal.

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that’s clinically shown to have negative effects on inulin function, as we documented in our Body Fortress Whey Protein reviews article.

Acesulfame potassium is another artificial sweetener that was shown in animal studies to disrupt gut function.

Yellow 5 is an artificial colorant, and a 2012 medical review found that some synthetic food dyes could cause cancer and could damage DNA.

Overall, we consider Gold Standard Whey Protein likely to support muscle growth due to its effective protein dose, but we do not currently recommend this brand due to the myriad questionable additives it contains.

In our opinion, this is one of the least healthy protein powders we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.

But how does its price stack up to other popular brands? We’ll answer that question in the next section of this article.

Is Gold Standard Whey Affordable?

Protein powders are sold at a wide variety of different serving sizes and protein doses, so to simplify our comparison, we’ll break down the cost per-gram of protein from Gold Standard and other popular brands, at the time of publishing this article:

Vega Protein Powder: $0.11

Orgain Protein Powder: $0.09

Ghost Protein Powder: $0.07

Gold Standard Whey: $0.05

Gold Standard Whey outperforms on price, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular. This product is available for purchase in large tubs, and buying in bulk typically allows for cost savings.

Real People Try Gold Standard Whey

A YouTube creator named “ImChillToo” has a video testing Gold Standard Whey that has over 100,000 views:

A YouTube creator named Gabriel Duncan has a video sharing his experience taking Gold Standard Whey where he suggests the brand is a good choice for muscle gain and fat loss:

Where to Buy Gold Standard for the Best Price

Gold Standard Whey is sold at a large number of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the 73-serving version at the time of publishing this article:

Brand website: $85.99 (free shipping, link)

Walmart: $84.99 (third-party seller, link)

GNC: $84.99 (free shipping, link)

Amazon: $75.95 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is currently 12% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.

Impressive Third-Party Test Results

One major plus of Gold Standard Whey is that this protein brand has passed multiple different types of third-party testing.

ConsumerLab, which is an independent testing organization that we trust, tested the heavy metals in Gold Standard Whey and gave the brand a passing grade.

This whey protein powder has also been Informed Choice Certified for nearly 10 years, and this testing process ensures that the finished product contains no banned substances (like steroids).

As we documented in our 310 Nutrition reviews article, some popular protein supplements have been found to be high in lead, so all things being equal, a tested and certified product in this category is safer than an untested product.

While we don’t recommend Gold Standard for regular consumers, these test results may make the brand a good choice for elite athletes or any group that gets professionally drug-tested for steroids.

Our Clean Protein Picks

Bulletproof Collagen Protein is our top protein powder.

The main reason is its formulation: Bulletproof's protein powder only contains one single ingredient: collagen protein sourced from grass-fed animals.

As the core structural protein in skin, supplemental collagen is also clinically proven to reduce visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles, which is a secondary benefit not offered by other types of protein like milk protein.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Protein at this link to the product page on Bulletproof's official website.

Complement Organic Protein is our top vegan protein powder.

The only ingredients in this protein powder are a blend of nutritious plant proteins and zero unhealthy additives: organic yellow pea protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, organic almond protein, organic sunflower seed protein and organic chia seed protein.

The brand also publishes third-party test results for label accuracy and contaminants which ensures product quality and is not common in the vegan protein market.

Interested consumers can check out Complement Organic Protein at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.

Both of the products mentioned in this section are entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider unhealthy.

Real Customers Review Gold Standard

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey has been reviewed over 215,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Andrei” who gives the product a 5/5 star rating and likes the taste and product effects:

“it has also helped me achieve my fitness goals. My muscles feel more toned, and I have noticed a significant increase in my energy levels during workouts. The taste is great, and it blends smoothly into my shakes without any clumps.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Gary Sites” who dislikes the taste:

“I've been using protein powders consistently for 45 years, and this powder is in the top 3 of the worst I've ever tried. The double chocolate flavor doesn't even taste like chocolate. Put it in water, and it tastes like dirt water.”

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey has a review rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google.

Pros and Cons of Gold Standard

Here are the pros and cons of Gold Standard Whey in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Effective protein dose
  • Great price
  • Highly positive online customer reviews
  • Third-party tested
  • May be good choice for athletes who are steroid-tested

Cons:

  • Contains artificial sweeteners
  • Some flavors contain artificial color
  • Contains artificial flavor
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

Gold Standard Whey is one of the leading protein powders on the market, but isn’t a brand we currently recommend.

While this product provides an effective dose of protein for building muscle, it contains a range of questionable additives including artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners.

Consuming protein powder that's free of these additives would be a healthier choice in our opinion.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is one of the most cost-effective protein powders on the market on a per-gram-of-protein basis. It’s twice as cheap as some other popular brands at the time of publishing this article.

Online customer reviews of this product are highly favorable.

Gold Standard Whey has passed both ConsumerLab and Informed Choice third-party testing, which ensures this supplement has low or non-existent heavy metals levels, and that it’s free of steroids. That makes this product potentially a good choice for athletes who get drug tested.