amber
Carboxymethylcellulose
The 2015 Chassaing et al. study in Nature showed this emulsifier disrupts gut microbiota and induces low-grade inflammation.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Muscle Nation Protein Bar Cheesecake Zesty Lemon 50g
Is Muscle Nation Protein Bar Cheesecake Zesty Lemon 50g low tox? Our scanner flagged 4 ingredients (4 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
4 caution
4 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Sucralose
Studies show altered gut microbiota and increased gut permeability.
amber
Maltitol
Sugar alcohol. Common osmotic-laxative and bloating trigger in IBS at >10g intake.
amber
E476
Castor-oil-derived emulsifier ubiquitous in compound chocolate. Same gut-barrier concerns as the other Chassaing-class emulsifiers.
Full ingredients (from label)
Muscle Nation Lemon Flavoured Custard 35% (Custard Powder (Milk Protein Concentrate 77.0%, Skim Milk Powder, Fibre (Inulin), Medium-Chain-Triglyceride (MCT) Oil Powder (Antioxidants 306, 307b) (Milk), Flavour, Anticaking Agent (551), Thickener (Carboxymethylcellulose), Sweetener (Sucralose), Sodium Chloride), Sweetener (Maltitol), Isomalto-Oligosaccharide (Soluble Fibre), Humectant (Glycerol), Lemon Oil, Natural Colour (160a))No Added Sugar Protein White Chocolate 20% (Sweetener (Maltitol), Cocoa Solids 33%, Soy Protein Isolate, Milk Solids 10%, Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithin, 476), Food Acid (Citric Acid))Lemon Paste 8% (Polydextrose, Glycerine, Lemon Juice 18%, Apple Juice Concentrate, Vegetable Fibre, Pectin, Food Acid (270, 332), Natural Flavouring, Stevia Extract, Natural Colour (100))Whey Protein Concentrate (Milk)Milk Protein ConcentrateIsomalto-Oligosaccharide (Soluble Fibre)Humectant (Glycerol)Soy Protein CrispsSunflower OilLemon Kibble 2%Hydrolysed CollagenNatural FlavourNo Added Sugar White Protein Chocolate Chip (Milk, Soy)SaltEmulsifier (Soy Lecithin)Natural Colour (150a)Antioxidant (Vitamin E).
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.