amber
Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose
The 2015 Chassaing et al. study in Nature showed this emulsifier disrupts gut microbiota and induces low-grade inflammation.
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The Man Shake Meal Replacement Chocolate 450mL
Is The Man Shake Meal Replacement Chocolate 450mL low tox? Our scanner flagged 3 ingredients (3 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
3 caution
3 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Carrageenan
Gut inflammation concerns; contested in research literature but worth a trial of avoidance for IBS.
amber
Sucralose
Studies show altered gut microbiota and increased gut permeability.
Full ingredients (from label)
WaterProtein blend (8%) (Milk Protein Concentrate, Sodium Caseinate (Milk), Milk solids, Whey Protein Concentrate (Milk))Soluble Maize FibreCocoa Powder (1%)GlycineVitamins and Minerals (Calcium Phosphate Tribasic, Magnesium Phosphate Tribasic, Sodium Ascorbate, Ferric Pyrophosphate, dl--Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin A Acetate, Cyanocobalamin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3, Calcium D - Pantothenate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide)Stabilisers (Cellulose Microcrystalline, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Sodium Phosphate Dibasic, Gellan Gum)FlavoursMedium Chain TriglyceridesEmulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin)Sweetener (Sucralose).
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.