Premier Protein 30g Shake Bananas & Cream: Labelgrade B
B 79 / 100 — Premier's banana spin on their flagship 30g shake. Same dual-artificial-sweetener formulation as the Vanilla version. Wins big on protein-per-calorie (5.3 cal/g — matches plain chicken breast). The 33-ingredient list is the price of mass-market shelf-stable convenience.
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Premier Protein Bananas & Cream 30g Shake delivers 30 g of protein per 11.5 fl oz (340 ml) bottle at just 159 calories (USDA FDC 2626567) — a protein-per-calorie ratio of 5.3 cal/g, matching plain cooked chicken breast. It’s the same flagship Premier formulation as Vanilla/Chocolate/Strawberry with banana flavoring on top. The Labelgrade is B (79 / 100): best-in-class macros (30 g protein, near-zero sugar, low sodium, low fat), earned via a 33-ingredient shelf-stable formula with dual artificial sweeteners (sucralose + acesulfame potassium) and the standard RTD-shake stabilizer stack (cellulose gel + gum, carrageenan, phosphate salts). The ingredient complexity is the price of room-temp shelf life; the protein math is otherwise as good as it gets in a $3 grocery-store shake.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | C | 63 / 100 | 8.7 g per 100 ml — moderate for a beverage. The per-bottle total (30 g) is what matters for the typical use case |
| Ingredient quality | B- | 71 / 100 | 33 ingredients with sucralose + acesulfame potassium flagged. The vitamin/mineral blend accounts for 22 of those — fortification mostly. The shelf-stability stack (cellulose gum, carrageenan, phosphates) is standard for RTD shakes but it’s still a long list |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 99 / 100 | 0.5 g per bottle — effectively zero. Sunflower oil is the only meaningful fat source |
| Sodium load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 242 mg per bottle (~71 mg per 100 ml) — low. Below Premier’s competitor shakes (Ensure: ~250 mg, Boost: ~260 mg) |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 1 g sugar (all from natural lactose in milk protein), 0 g added sugar. Sweetness comes from the artificial-sweetener blend |
| Fiber | F | 32 / 100 | 1 g per bottle — modest. Some inulin fiber added but not a fiber product |
| Overall | B | 79 / 100 | One of the most efficient protein-per-calorie commodity shakes on the US market. Banana flavor is divisive but the formulation is excellent. Lower Labelgrade vs the powder version of comparable shakes is entirely due to the shelf-stability ingredient stack |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per bottle | Calories | Cal per g protein | Added sugar | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Protein 30g B&C (this product) | 30 g (340 ml) | 159 | 5.3 | 0 g | Sucralose + ace-K |
| Premier Protein Vanilla 30g | 30 g (340 ml) | 160 | 5.3 | 1 g | Sucralose + ace-K |
| Fairlife Core Power Elite 42g Chocolate | 42 g (414 ml) | 232 | 5.5 | 0 g | Sucralose + ace-K + stevia + monk fruit |
| Fairlife Core Power Vanilla 26g | 26 g (340 ml) | 170 | 6.5 | 5 g | None (cane sugar) |
| ON Gold Standard RTD Vanilla | 24 g (325 ml) | 150 | 6.3 | 0 g | Sucralose + ace-K |
| Quest Vanilla Protein Shake | 30 g (325 ml) | 160 | 5.3 | 1 g | Sucralose + stevia |
| Plain chicken breast (100 g cooked) | 31 g | 165 | 5.3 | 0 g | None |
Premier and Quest are tied for best protein-per-calorie efficiency among mass-market RTDs (5.3 cal/g), matching plain cooked chicken breast. Premier’s edge over Quest is lower sodium (242 mg vs 470 mg per bottle). Quest’s edge is stevia-instead-of-sucralose as one of the two sweeteners.
Whole-food equivalent
One Premier 30g shake (30 g protein) ≈ 97 g of cooked chicken breast (about 3.4 oz). Calorie counts within 5%. The shake wins on convenience and lower preparation effort; the chicken wins on ingredient simplicity (1 ingredient vs 33) and zero artificial sweeteners.
Scope
This page covers Premier Protein 30g Shake Bananas & Cream in the 11.5 fl oz / 340 ml single-bottle format (UPC 643843717850, USDA FDC 2626567). Premier’s 30g protein-shake line includes many flavor variants:
- Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry — most-stocked classic flavors
- Caramel, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter — premium flavors
- Bananas & Cream (this product) — fruity option
- Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Spice, Café Latte — seasonal/limited
- Cookie Dough — newer release
Per-bottle macros vary by ±10% across the flavors. The protein base (milk protein concentrate + calcium caseinate), sweetener blend (sucralose + ace-K), and stabilizer stack are constant. Premier also sells 30g shakes in a “Clear Protein” format (whey isolate, not milk protein) which is a different product line.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Water, milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, contains less than 1% of high oleic sunflower oil, natural and artificial flavors, inulin, cellulose gel and cellulose gum, salt, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, carrageenan, tripotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, vitamin and mineral blend.
Where to buy
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 1 shake (340 ml)
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 shake (340 ml)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 159 |
| Protein | 30g |
| Total Fat | 3g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 4g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Total Sugars | 1g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 242mg |
| Cholesterol | 21mg |
| Calcium | 649mg |
| Iron | 1.8mg |
| Potassium | 179mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Premier Protein 30g Shake (Bananas & Cream) (11.5 fl oz (340 ml)) · UPC 643843717850. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in a Premier Protein Bananas & Cream shake?
30 g of protein per 11.5 fl oz (340 ml) bottle (USDA FDC 2626567) — about 8.7 g per 100 ml. The protein source is milk protein concentrate + calcium caseinate, which is mostly casein (slow-digesting) plus some whey. 30 g is a meaningful single-meal protein dose.
What's the calorie efficiency?
5.3 calories per gram of protein — matching plain cooked chicken breast (5.3 cal/g) and beating most ready-to-drink shakes. The trick is hitting 30 g protein at only 159 calories: nearly all of the calories come from protein, not from added sugar or fat. The shake is a remarkably efficient delivery vehicle if you only care about protein per calorie.
Does Bananas & Cream taste like banana?
Mild banana flavor on top of the standard Premier creamy base. Most reviewers compare it to a milkshake with light banana extract. Less polarizing than the Cookies & Cream or Chocolate Mint flavors; sweeter than the plain Vanilla. Banana sensitivity varies — if you don't like artificial banana flavor in candy, you probably won't love this flavor.
Why does the ingredient list have 33 items?
Shelf-stable RTD shakes inherently need more stabilizers and emulsifiers than refrigerated shakes (like Fairlife Core Power). Premier adds: cellulose gel + cellulose gum (texture), carrageenan (separation prevention), phosphate salts (mineral fortification and protein stability), inulin (fiber + mouthfeel), sucralose + acesulfame potassium (sweetener), and a 22-item vitamin/mineral blend. Each ingredient has a function; the long list is what enables 12-month room-temp shelf stability.
Sucralose AND acesulfame potassium together?
Standard mass-market shake formulation. Each sweetener has a slight bitter aftertaste at higher doses; blending two smaller doses produces a cleaner sweet profile. Both are FDA-recognized as safe. Some people prefer to avoid one or both — if so, Core Power Original uses cane sugar instead (5-7 g per bottle); ON Gold Standard RTD uses the same sucralose + ace-K combo as Premier.
How does it compare to other Premier flavors?
Per-bottle macros are nearly identical across Premier's 30g shake flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Caramel, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Bananas & Cream, etc.): 30 g protein, 159-165 cal, 1-3 g sugar, 240-250 mg sodium. The ingredient list varies in flavoring additives but the protein base and sweetener blend are constant. Labelgrade lands at B (79/100) across the entire flavor lineup.
Is it keto?
Yes. 4 g total carbs minus 1 g fiber = 3 g net carbs per shake. Under the keto threshold of ≤5 g net carbs per serving. 30 g protein at 159 cal works as a keto meal-replacement or post-workout dose. Some strict keto practitioners avoid sucralose; if so, Core Power Original or Fairlife Elite (which use stevia + monk fruit + ace-K) might fit better.
How does it compare to Fairlife Core Power Elite 42g?
Different positioning. Premier 30g: $2.50-3.50 per bottle, 30 g protein, dual-artificial-sweetened, mass-market shelf-stable. Fairlife Elite 42g: $4-5 per bottle, 42 g protein, four-sweetener blend, refrigerated. Elite gets you 40% more protein per bottle at 40-60% higher cost, and is positioned as athlete-targeted. Premier is the practical commuter shake; Elite is the post-heavy-workout shake.
Is it 'high in protein' under FDA rules?
Yes — 30 g per serving is 60% of the FDA 50 g Daily Value, well above the 20% threshold required for the 'high in protein' claim. Premier prominently features this on the bottle.