Nestlé responds to backlash over ‘scummy’ protein Milo detail

Nestlé has responded after eagle-eyed Aussies spotted an alarming detail in the nutritional label of one of its newer products.

It’s the cult product that Aussies have loved for decades, but a newer iteration of Milo has recently raised some eyebrows.

The Milo Pro Powder was released in 2023 and costs $16 at Woolworths and $12.50 at Coles.

It is meant to taste like the original chocolate malt drink but with over 15 grams of protein per glass.

“Help repair your muscles after exercise with 15 grams of protein delivered through Milo Pro and milk,” the product description states.

However, it has drawn scepticism from eagle-eyed customers who noticed a glaring detail on the back of the nutrition label that some claim is “very misleading”.

Now, Nestlé has responded to the criticism and asserted the company has done no wrongdoing.

People have spotted a surprising detail in the nutritional label of Milo Pro. Picture: Reddit

The Milo Pro protein claims

In a recent social media post, a man called the product an “abomination,” saying that it “didn’t mix”, “tasted burnt”, and “had the consistency of gravel”.

While some commenters agreed with him, mentioning the texture was “coarse” and “rough” – the majority of comments focused on the fact that the drink contains so much protein because it’s served with milk.

More than half (6.3 grams) of the 15.5 grams of protein comes from the recommended 250ml of Skim Milk – meaning consumers are receiving 9.2 grams of protein solely from the milk.

For reference, regular Milo is suggested to be served with just 200ml of skim milk, indicating Nestlé increased the suggested serving size of milk for the Milo Pro, likely to enhance the protein count.

However, the company claims they did this purely to cater to the audience who typically consumes this type of drink and who want larger serving sizes.

Most of the protein in the product comes from the milk that it’s suggested to be served with. Picture: Reddit

Nestlé responds

“We know that MILO is a favourite across generations – and we understand protein plays an essential role for many people, including teenagers and active Aussies,” a Nestlé spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Considering this audience, who often drink a larger serving of MILO with milk, we’ve adjusted our serve size accordingly.”

They also pointed out that Milo Pro powder contains approximately 50 per cent more protein than Milo Original powder on a per 100g basis.

“The protein in Milo Pro comes from a combination of ingredients including milk powders and cocoa powder.”

Yet, fans were still unconvinced.

“Pointless c**p”

“The milk is mostly responsible for the protein. Talk about f**king pointless,” said one user on Reddit.

“It’s just silly. It’s a p**s tiny amount of extra protein,” said another, while another referred to the concept as “crap”.

Clearly, people felt passionately about this, as the comments kept pouring in.

“Better off mixing regular Milo with good quality unflavoured protein powder,” suggested one user.

“It feels a bit disingenuous to advertise the protein count with milk,” replied another. “Everything could be labelled high protein if served with something rich in protein. Would we let breakfast cereals get away with that?”

Others deemed the move “scummy” and speculated whether it violated any labelling laws.

However, the front of the tin clearly indicates that the protein count is “when served with milk.”

The importance of protein

Protein is vital for muscle repair and growth, making it especially essential for those with active lifestyles.

According to dietitian Susie Burrell, it also aids in optimising metabolism, renewing cells, building hormones, controlling weight, and facilitating food digestion.

“It is recommended that Australian adults consume at least 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight, or 60-80g per day at a minimum,” she said.

Data from the Australian Health Survey revealed that only 14 per cent of Australian adults meet their recommended 2.5 servings of high-quality protein daily.