Whey Protein Brand Review — Is PEScience Actually Good?

Is PEScience A Good Brand?

PEScience markets itself as science-forward but rarely publishes full amino acid profiles or leucine content, which may concern serious muscle builders seeking transparency and complete info.

So is PEScience a good brand? If brand strength is defined by perceived value and consumer popularity — absolutely. If the definition includes open scientific proof, consistent label integrity, and complete transparency, PEScience still has homework to do.

Is PEScience A Good Brand? TL;DR

However, when you dig deeper into protein quality and transparency, PEScience conveniently sidesteps proof. If you’re looking for a protein powder that is Prop 65-free, PEScience is a good option. However, if good is quality, look elsewhere. No full amino acid profile is published, and no exact amount for their leucine peptides is in the ingredient list. Finally, the nutrition facts label included leucine peptides in the final protein tabulation, raising concerns about what you are really getting.

Bottom line: PEScience is “good enough” if you’re looking for a light meal replacement shake or dessert-quality protein. However, if you’re serious about muscle-building, tracking quality, or verifying protein yield, it isn’t your final protein.

How Transparent Is PEScience About Protein Quality?

PEScience does not publish a full amino acid profile, which is crucial for transparency and assessing protein quality. Leucine — the key anabolic amino acid is hidden behind the “proprietary / requested” wall. There is a Certificate of Assurance; however, it only shows microbial and heavy metal amounts. That’s good; however, knowing protein quality is equally important in your scoop.

The Nutrition Facts panel claims 23–24 g of protein per serving and includes a short ingredient list. But behind the curtain, crucial details are missing. How many leucine peptides are you getting per serving? Are the leucine peptides included in the final amount of protein? Yes, they are. That lack of transparency isn’t an oversight, that deliberate marking. For a brand that markets itself with “science vibes,” I’m not surprised.

Does PEScience Show Signs of Amino Spiking Risk?

We can’t prove PEScience is spiking — but we also can’t confirm purity. Several red flags emerge:

• No full amino acid disclosure means you can’t confirm complete protein or essential amino acid content, raising questions about amino spiking risks and protein integrity. The presence of undisclosed “leucine peptides” that aren’t quantified — yet count toward nitrogen-based protein totals — leaves room for inflated protein claims.
• Nitrogen fillers can be hidden behind “Natural and Artificial Flavors” based on 21 CFR 101.22.
• The formula relies on nitrogen-based testing (e.g., Kjeldahl), which counts all nitrogen-bearing compounds (including non-protein nitrogen) as “protein,” even if they don’t contribute to muscle synthesis.

Taken together: plausible concerns. It may not be malicious, but it’s definitely murky. For anyone chasing real muscle-building potential, that murkiness erodes trust.

Is PEScience Really Third-Party Tested?

So what’s the problem? No third-party analysis examining the protein quality. 

How Honest Is PEScience About Its Sourcing?

The tubs are labeled “Manufactured in the USA,” which ensures that final processing meets U.S. regulatory standards. But that doesn’t mean the raw whey or milk proteins are domestically sourced. When pressed, PEScience admitted it sources ingredients “when possible” in the U.S., but some content may come from abroad. No specific origin labels for the whey or milk fractions, which could impact sourcing transparency.

There’s no “Irish whey,” “EU milk protein,” or “grass-fed pasture-raised” verified language — just generic claims. For a brand charging borderline “premium-like” prices, that’s more marketing opacity than sourcing transparency.

Ingredients and Sweeteners — How Clean Is “Clean”?

On paper, PEScience’s formula seems tidy: milk protein isolate (casein + whey), whey concentrate, a touch of coconut oil, cocoa or flavoring, gums (tapioca starch, guar), and sweeteners. There are no massive filler walls or unnecessary bulking agents.

But “clean” doesn’t equal “transparent.” The flavor system uses “natural and artificial flavors” and undisclosed leucine peptides, which raises concerns for ingredient-savvy buyers. Gums and starches (tapioca, guar) give the shake its milkshake-like texture — great for mouthfeel, but less ideal if you care about pure protein over indulgence.

In short, the ingredient list surfaces a “clean formula,” but only since the brand controls what you see. What remains hidden — peptide grams, amino distribution, source of flavor agents — undercuts the perception of straightforwardness.

Heavy Metals, Prop 65, and Safety Signals

PEScience passes safety tests with ICP-MS screening for heavy metals below California Prop 65 thresholds, reassuring casual users about product safety.

No Prop 65 warning appears on the label, and no public trace of heavy-metal scaremongering tied to this whey line in recent years. On safety grounds, PEScience appears reasonably clean — but again, “safe to drink” doesn’t equal “proven to build muscle.”

Supplement Lawsuit History — Has PEScience Been Sued?

Sort of. In March 2025, a class action was filed against PEScience LLC over their Select Vegan Plant Protein Powder, not the whey/casein-based Select line. The plaintiff alleges that the vegan product misrepresents protein quality and overstates protein content — claiming that the “20 g per serving” promise doesn’t reflect actual usable protein, due to lower digestibility (pea + rice sources) and failure to adjust %DV using proper PDCAAS correction. The lawsuit accuses PEScience of misleading consumers and breaching express warranty under California law.

The case, Melara et al. v. PEScience LLC, is ongoing and involves only the vegan SKU. Yet it puts a spotlight on the brand’s willingness to lean on label claims — even if those claims involve convenient ambiguity about protein yield. For anyone evaluating brand integrity, that lawsuit is a flashing caution light.

How Do PEScience Proteins Taste and Mix?

Here’s where PEScience truly shines. Select Protein shakes mix effortlessly — no gritty clumps, no chalky residue, no shaker-bottle struggles. The whey–casein blend turns water or milk into a thick, creamy shake that feels indulgent yet convenient. Chocolate flavors deliver a rich “dessert shake” vibe; mint-chocolate hits the mark without tasting like toothpaste (mint-lovers, take note).

In my testing, mixability scores a perfect 10/10. With water, it dissolves clean. With milk, it becomes a full-blown treat — heavy, smooth, and satisfying. If flavor and drinkability are your deciding factors, PEScience does not disappoint.

The downside: this texture and sweetness come from flavor systems, gums, and a casein-heavy base — not from transparent protein engineering. The shake experience is indulgent. The protein guarantee is as firm as vanilla pudding.

Is PEScience Worth the Price?

On cost per serving, PEScience sits in the mid-tier. But “price” isn’t just dollars — it’s what you get for those dollars. You’re paying a fair amount for taste, texture, convenience, and a safe production process.

What you’re not paying for — but perhaps hoping for — is verified protein integrity.

Suppose your goal is to recover from tough workouts and stimulate muscle growth. In that case, you need to know how many naturally occurring amino acids you are getting per scoop. The basic information for protein powders is a publicly available amino acid profile. Secondly, an independent analysis verifying the protein quality. Neither is available.

However, you want a protein powder that undergoes rigorous ingredient audits. In that case, it mixes well and offers an amazing dessert experience. PEScience proteins should be on your list. 

Who Should — and Who Shouldn’t — Buy PEScience?

Buy if

• Dessert flavors offer a thick milkshake-like experience.
• Convenience, mixability, and flavor are at the top of your list.
• A meal replacement light experience, or looking to stay full until your next meal.
• Protein powder is free of a Prop 65 Warning.

Skip if

• Fitness nerds are concerned about protein numbers.
• Serious fitness athlete wanting to build muscle and recover from exercise.
• Transparency about what you’re actually purchasing.

How Does PEScience Compare to Other Protein Brands?

Against flavor-focused blends like many mainstream whey–casein mixes, PEScience competes strongly — possibly better. Its texture, sweetness, and mixability put it near the top for drinkability.

But against brands that publish amino tables, use third-party verification, and offer transparent sourcing — such as AGN Roots or Transparent Labs — PEScience falls short. Those brands may sacrifice dessert-shake texture, but they deliver what PEScience won’t: confidence that every gram of protein counts.

In the “flavor-first” lane, PEScience is a top-tier ride. In the “data-first” lane, it lags behind the more transparent competition.

Check out these comparisons of PEscience to other nationally recognized brands:

• PEScience vs Transparent Labs
• PEScience vs Optimum Nutrition

Final Verdict — Should You Trust PEScience?

PEScience is proof that you can make a protein powder that tastes like a treat, mixes like a milkshake, and gives you a quick macro fix. For casual users, you will love PEScience Select Protein.

However, you want to see measurable results post-workout or want a protein powder that will fuel your fitness goals. In that case, it’s tough to trust PEScience. No true amino acid profile, leucine peptides added to the final protein per serving, and no transparency behind the brand make PEScience hard to trust.

If all you want is a convenient shake that tastes great, PEScience delivers. If you want certainty — not just trust — this isn’t your forever protein.

Want the Full PEScience Story?

Check out my full written review on PEScience products and PEScience LLC:

• PEScience vs Transparent Labs — Dessert Protein or Documented Protein?
• PEScience vs Optimum Nutrition — Which Protein Powder Is Better?
• Is PEScience Protein Clean? A Transparent Look at Testing, Ingredients & Heavy Metals
• Whey Protein Brand Review — Is PEScience Actually Good

• PEScience Protein review (definitive review)
• PEScience Select Protein review (older review)

Is PEScience A Good Brand? Sources

Top Class Actions. (2025, March 20). PEScience class action says Select Vegan Plant Protein Powder falls short on protein. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/pescience-class-action-says-select-vegan-plant-protein-powder-falls-short-on-protein

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). 21 C.F.R. § 101.22 — Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-B/section-101.22