Whey Protein Powder Labels: Protein per Scoop, Serving Size, Amino Acids and Added Ingredients

Whey protein tubs print plenty of numbers on the front, but the ones that let you compare two products sit on the back: the serving size, the protein line, the ingredient list and, on some labels, an amino acid table. This guide shows how to read each of them, using the six whey powders we carry as worked examples. The key habit is simple: compare protein per stated serving, because the serving is not the same size from brand to brand.

How we wrote this: the label details come from each brand’s own label images and product pages, plus NSF Certified for Sport listings for scoop weights, viewed in October 2026. The rules come from FDA’s labeling regulations, 21 CFR 101.9 (Nutrition Facts) and 21 CFR 101.36 (Supplement Facts), as published on eCFR. We describe what the labels and rules say. We have not tested these powders, the label on your tub may differ by flavor or size, and this is not diet or medical advice.

Step 1: Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts?

Most whey powders carry a Nutrition Facts panel, the same format as other foods. Some are sold as dietary supplements and carry a Supplement Facts panel instead. Both show serving size and protein, but they are built under different rules.

• Nutrition Facts. FDA’s rule (21 CFR 101.9(c)(7)) says the panel states grams of protein per serving, to the nearest gram. It also says the protein %DV is based on an amount corrected for protein quality, using a score called PDCAAS.
• Supplement Facts. FDA’s rule (21 CFR 101.36) says dietary supplements carry a Supplement Facts panel that lists dietary ingredients by amount per serving.

Among our six, Momentous Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate uses a Supplement Facts panel for its Vanilla flavor. The other five labels we checked use Nutrition Facts. In practice you read the protein line the same way on both.

Step 2: Find the serving size, in grams

“1 scoop” is not a unit. Scoops differ in size, and one brand in our set does not even use one scoop as its serving. Look for the gram weight in brackets next to the serving size.

• Momentous: the label says 1 scoop (25g).
• Naked Whey: the Unflavored label says 30g (about 2 scoops). So one Naked scoop is roughly half a serving.
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard: the Double Rich Chocolate label says 31g (about 1 scoop).
• SEEQ Clear Whey: the Juicy Peach label says 1 scoop (28g).
• Thorne: the Thorne product page says only “1 Scoop”. The gram weight, 30.2g, comes from the NSF Certified for Sport listing.
• Transparent Labs: the Milk Chocolate label says 1 scoop (34.9g).

Step 3: Read protein per serving, and per gram of powder

Once you have the serving weight, the protein line makes sense. Here are the six side by side, each per the serving its own label states.

Product (flavor)	Serving as labeled	Protein per serving	Calories
Momentous (Vanilla)	1 scoop, 25g	20g	90
Naked Whey (Unflavored)	30g, about 2 scoops	25g	120
Optimum Nutrition (Double Rich Chocolate)	31g, about 1 scoop	24g	120
SEEQ Clear Whey (Juicy Peach)	1 scoop, 28g	22g	100
Thorne (Chocolate)	1 scoop, 30.2g (NSF)	21g (Thorne says)	100 (Thorne says)
Transparent Labs (Milk Chocolate)	1 scoop, 34.9g	28g	130

A bigger number on the protein line often comes with a bigger serving. Transparent Labs lists the most protein, 28g, and also the heaviest scoop, 34.9g. To compare fairly, divide protein by serving weight. By that label arithmetic, Momentous comes to 20g in 25g (80%) and Transparent Labs to 28g in 34.9g (about 80%), while Optimum Nutrition comes to 24g in 31g (about 77%). Naked Whey Unflavored, with whey as its only ingredient, comes to 25g in 30g (about 83%).

Also check the %DV column next to protein. The labels print, for example, 40% for Momentous, 50% for Naked Whey and 49% for Transparent Labs. Under FDA’s rule that percentage uses a quality-corrected amount, so it is not always the grams divided by 50.

Step 4: Ingredient weight is not protein weight

Two of our labels print a gram weight next to the whey itself, and that number is larger than the protein line. It is easy to misread.

• Momentous lists grass-fed whey protein isolate 23.3g. The protein line says 20g.
• Transparent Labs lists grass-fed whey protein isolate (33g). The protein line says 28g.

The first number is the weight of the whey ingredient as a whole. Whey isolate is mostly protein, but not entirely, so the protein line is lower. When you compare, use the protein line, not the ingredient weight. This is also why a Supplement Facts panel can look so detailed: listing ingredients by amount per serving is how FDA’s rule for supplements works.

Step 5: Read the whey type in the ingredient list

The first ingredient tells you which form of whey you are buying. Naked Whey lists whey protein concentrate. Momentous, SEEQ, Thorne and Transparent Labs list whey protein isolate. Optimum Nutrition lists a protein blend of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and hydrolyzed whey protein. For what those label words mean, and how whey compares with plant powders, see our whey isolate vs concentrate vs plant protein guide.

Step 6: Check the added ingredients

After the whey comes everything else. These are the groups to look for, with what each of our labels lists.

• Nothing added. Naked Whey Unflavored lists a single ingredient, whey protein concentrate.
• Sweeteners. Momentous lists monk fruit extract and stevia. SEEQ lists Reb M (stevia) and monk fruit extract. Transparent Labs lists stevia extract. For how monk fruit and stevia read on a label, see monk fruit vs stevia vs allulose. Thorne says its chocolate flavor uses evaporated cane juice sugar and rebaudioside A (from stevia). Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard lists acesulfame potassium, and its label says “Artificially Flavored”.
• Flavors. Natural flavors appear on Momentous, SEEQ and Transparent Labs. Optimum Nutrition lists natural and artificial flavor. Thorne lists chocolate flavor. Our natural flavors vs artificial flavors guide explains the FDA definitions.
• Lecithin. Optimum Nutrition lists sunflower and/or soy lecithin. Transparent Labs lists sunflower lecithin. The other four do not list lecithin.
• Enzymes. Momentous lists ProHydrolase, which its label describes as a proprietary blend of proteases, at 200mg. Thorne Whey Protein Isolate lists a bromelain and papain blend, 30mg per Thorne.
• Gums, acids, colors and processing aids. Thorne lists xanthan gum and carboxymethylcellulose gum. SEEQ Clear Whey lists citric acid, polysorbate 80, beta carotene and red beet powder for color, and silicone as an antifoam.
• Salt and cocoa. Momentous and Transparent Labs list salt. The chocolate flavors list cocoa powder.

The Nutrition Facts panel shows the effect of some of these. SEEQ and Transparent Labs list 0g added sugars. Optimum Nutrition’s label says it is “not a significant source of” added sugars. Thorne says its chocolate flavor has 2g sugar per serving.

Step 7: The amino acid profile, if there is one

Some brands print a table of amino acids per serving. Others print one figure or none.

• Momentous prints a “Typical Amino Acid Profile” with 18 amino acids. The label says, for example, 2,480.40mg leucine per serving. “Typical” means it is a representative figure, not a guaranteed value for every batch.
• Naked Whey prints an “Amino Acid Profile” with 18 amino acids per 30g serving, and marks the essential amino acids and BCAAs. The label says 2982mg leucine, 1491mg isoleucine and 1395mg valine. Those three add up to about 5.9g, which matches the BCAA figure Naked states.
• Optimum Nutrition does not print a table on the panel we checked. ON says each serving has 5.5g naturally occurring BCAAs.
• Thorne does not list a full table on its product page. Thorne says each serving has 2.2g leucine.
• SEEQ and Transparent Labs do not print an amino acid breakdown on the label images we checked.

If amino acid figures matter to you, compare them per serving and per gram, just like protein, because Naked’s figures are for a 30g serving and Momentous’s are for 25g.

Step 8: Allergens and seals

Whey comes from milk. The Momentous, Naked Whey, Optimum Nutrition, SEEQ and Transparent Labs labels all say they contain milk, and Optimum Nutrition’s label also says it contains soy, from the lecithin. If you avoid milk or soy, read the “Contains” line on your own tub. Some tubs also carry certification marks; the Naked Whey label shows the NSF Contents Certified mark. Our protein powder buying guide covers what third-party seals check and how whey compares with plant, egg and collagen powders.

Quick checklist

1. Panel type: Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts?
2. Serving size in grams, and how many scoops it is.
3. Protein per serving, then protein divided by serving weight.
4. Protein line, not the whey ingredient weight.
5. Whey type: concentrate, isolate, hydrolyzed or a blend.
6. Added ingredients: sweeteners, flavors, lecithin, enzymes, gums, colors.
7. Amino acid table: printed, a single figure, or none?
8. Allergens: milk, and soy if lecithin is soy-based.

FAQ

Why does my whey say “about 2 scoops” per serving?

The serving size is set by weight, and the scoop in the tub may be smaller than one serving. Naked Whey Unflavored lists a 30g serving as about 2 scoops, so one scoop gives about half the protein on the label.

Why is the whey listed at 23.3g when the protein is 20g?

23.3g is the weight of the whey isolate ingredient on the Momentous label. Not all of that ingredient is protein, and the protein line, 20g, is the number to compare.

Do all whey labels show an amino acid profile?

No. Of our six, Momentous and Naked Whey print a full table, Thorne states a leucine figure, Optimum Nutrition states a BCAA figure, and SEEQ and Transparent Labs do not print one on the labels we checked.

Is a Supplement Facts panel better than Nutrition Facts?

Neither is better. They follow different FDA rules depending on how the product is sold. Read serving size and protein the same way on both.

Where to go next

Each product page above has the full label details for that powder. For choosing a protein type in the first place, start with the buying guide linked in Step 8.