What Kind of Sweetener is in Ensure?

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Ensure's manufacturer, Abbott, different Ensure products utilize a variety of sweeteners, including a mix of artificial and natural options. Understanding what kind of sweetener is in Ensure requires checking the ingredients of the specific product, as formulations vary significantly based on nutritional goals, such as lower sugar or higher protein content.

Quick Summary

Ensure shakes contain a mix of artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium, alongside nutritive sweeteners such as sugar and corn maltodextrin. Specific sweeteners depend on the product line, with options like Ensure Plant-Based and Max Protein featuring stevia and monk fruit while minimizing or removing added sugars.

Key Points

Variety of Sweeteners: Ensure products use different sweeteners, including sugar, corn maltodextrin, sucralose, Acesulfame-K, stevia, and monk fruit, depending on the specific product formulation.
Product-Specific Formulas: Sweetener types vary based on the product line's nutritional goals; for example, Ensure Max Protein uses artificial sweeteners for a low-sugar profile, while Ensure Plant-Based uses natural ones.
Artificial Sweeteners: Many Ensure products contain sucralose and Acesulfame-K, zero-calorie artificial sweeteners used to reduce sugar content while maintaining taste.
Nutritive Sweeteners: Ensure Original and Plus formulas include sugar and corn maltodextrin, which are nutritive sweeteners that provide calories and energy.
Natural Sweeteners: The Plant-Based Protein line features natural, plant-derived sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit to appeal to a broader consumer base seeking less-processed ingredients.
Consumer Responsibility: To know exactly what kind of sweetener is in Ensure, it is essential for consumers to check the ingredient list on the specific product's packaging.

A Diverse Approach to Sweeteners in Ensure Formulas

Ensure's wide range of products means there is no single answer to the question, "What kind of sweetener is in Ensure?" The brand uses a mix of sugar, corn maltodextrin, and non-nutritive, high-intensity sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). This diverse approach allows the company to cater to different dietary needs and preferences, such as lower sugar content for diabetes management or higher calories for weight gain. For instance, the sugar content can vary significantly between the Ensure Original and more specialized formulas like Ensure Max Protein or Ensure Plant-Based.

Artificial vs. Natural Sweeteners in Ensure

Consumers often inquire about the difference between artificial and natural sweeteners in nutritional products. Artificial sweeteners, like sucralose and Acesulfame-K, provide sweetness without the calories of sugar because the body does not metabolize them for energy. These are used in many Ensure products to help manage calorie and sugar intake. On the other hand, newer products like Ensure Plant-Based Protein cater to those seeking natural alternatives by utilizing organic cane sugar, stevia leaf extract, and monk fruit extract.

Here is a breakdown of the primary sweeteners found in Ensure products:

Sucralose (Splenda): A zero-calorie artificial sweetener that is roughly 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is a common ingredient in many Ensure formulations, especially those aimed at reducing sugar content.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K): Another zero-calorie artificial sweetener often used in combination with sucralose to enhance and prolong the sweet taste.
Sugar and Corn Maltodextrin: Many of the classic Ensure formulas, including Ensure Original, use a blend of sugar and corn maltodextrin. Corn maltodextrin is a carbohydrate that provides a ready source of energy.
Stevia and Monk Fruit: These are natural, zero-calorie sweeteners derived from plants. They are specifically used in the Ensure Plant-Based Protein line for consumers who prefer naturally-sourced ingredients.
Fructose: Found in some specific Ensure varieties, such as Ensure Pre-Surgery, fructose is a type of simple sugar.

The Purpose Behind Sweetener Choices

The choice of sweeteners in Ensure products is strategic, driven by specific nutritional and marketing goals. For products like Ensure Max Protein, which focuses on providing high protein with minimal sugar, the use of sucralose and Ace-K is critical for maintaining taste without increasing the sugar load. In contrast, a product like Ensure Pre-Surgery includes fructose, a simple sugar, as part of a pre-operative clear carbohydrate diet. The introduction of natural sweeteners in the plant-based line aligns with consumer demand for more plant-based and less artificial ingredients.

Comparison of Sweeteners Across Ensure Products

This table illustrates the variation in sweeteners used across some popular Ensure products, highlighting how different formulations cater to specific dietary needs.


Ensure Product	Primary Sweeteners Used	Sweetener Type	Key Nutritional Goal
Ensure Original	Sugar, Corn Maltodextrin, Sucralose	Nutritive (Sugar, Maltodextrin) & Artificial (Sucralose)	Complete, balanced nutrition
Ensure Max Protein	Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium	Artificial, Zero-Calorie	High protein, low sugar
Ensure Plant-Based	Organic Cane Sugar, Stevia, Monk Fruit	Nutritive (Cane Sugar) & Natural (Stevia, Monk Fruit)	Plant-based, dairy-free
Ensure Plus	Sugar, Corn Maltodextrin	Nutritive	Concentrated calories and protein for weight gain
Ensure Pre-Surgery	Fructose, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium	Nutritive (Fructose) & Artificial	Clear carbohydrate drink

The Role of Sweeteners in Nutritional Formulation

Sweeteners are crucial for ensuring the palatability of nutritional shakes, making them more enjoyable to drink. Without them, the taste of high-protein formulas could be unpleasant. However, the choice of sweetener also impacts the product's nutritional profile. Non-nutritive sweeteners, like sucralose, are important for managing calorie intake, especially for individuals with diabetes or those focused on weight management. Concerns have been raised about the potential long-term effects of artificial sweeteners on gut health and metabolism, though research remains inconclusive and often debated. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that non-sugar sweeteners do not offer long-term benefits for body fat reduction and may have potential side effects, suggesting a need for more research and judicious use.

Potential Health Implications of Ensure's Sweetener Blends

While all approved sweeteners in Ensure are considered safe by regulatory bodies like the FDA, the health community continues to debate the long-term impacts of high-intensity sweeteners. The use of sugar alcohols in some formulas is not explicitly listed in common Ensure product ingredients but is part of the broader conversation about sugar substitutes. For most consumers, the balanced approach of combining carbohydrates with low-calorie sweeteners helps achieve a palatable product without excess calories. However, individuals with specific sensitivities or health conditions, such as reactive hypoglycemia, may need to carefully monitor their intake, regardless of the sweetener type.

Conclusion: A Diverse Sweetener Strategy

In conclusion, the type of sweetener in Ensure depends on the specific product, with formulations ranging from traditional sugar and corn maltodextrin to zero-calorie artificial sweeteners like sucralose and Acesulfame-K, and natural options such as stevia and monk fruit. Abbott's strategy is to offer a variety of products with different sweetener profiles to meet diverse dietary requirements, whether for managing blood sugar, increasing protein intake, or catering to plant-based diets. Consumers should always check the ingredient list of the specific Ensure product they are using to understand its sweetener profile and how it aligns with their health goals.

Visit the official Ensure website for detailed information on each product's nutritional facts and ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, many Ensure products, including Ensure Max Protein and Ensure High Protein, contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium to keep the calorie and sugar content low.

Ensure Plant-Based Protein products are specifically formulated with natural, plant-based sweeteners, including organic cane sugar, stevia leaf extract, and monk fruit extract.

No, the type of sweetener used varies significantly across the Ensure product line. Formulas are designed for different nutritional needs, so some contain sugar while others rely on artificial or natural, zero-calorie options.

No, most Ensure products use a blend of sweeteners. While some, like Ensure Original and Plus, contain sugar and corn maltodextrin, they often combine them with non-nutritive sweeteners to balance taste and calories.

Acesulfame Potassium, also known as Ace-K, is a zero-calorie artificial sweetener often combined with sucralose in Ensure products. It helps enhance the sweet taste without adding calories.

Yes, all sweeteners used in Ensure have been approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA for human consumption. The safety of these ingredients has been extensively reviewed, although ongoing debate exists regarding long-term health effects.

Ensure uses a blend of sweeteners for several reasons: to achieve the desired taste profile, manage calorie and sugar content, and cater to different dietary preferences, such as lower sugar for diabetics or natural sweeteners for plant-based consumers.