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If you’re open to trying grass-fed whey, your taste buds will probably thank you for it. Earth Fed Muscle’s whey protein comes from grass-fed cows to produce a creamy, great tasting protein powder perfect for those protein shakes. The product uses minimal ingredients and even includes micronutrients like calcium and potassium without extra junk and proprietary blends. We tried this clean protein powder for ourselves; keep reading to find out what we thought.
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Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Personally Tested By Our Team of Protein Enthusiasts
Our team of nutrition experts, dietitians, CrossFit Level 1 trainers, personal trainers, and athletes love protein just as much as you do. For this reason, we personally order, open, and try every protein powder we write a review for and are happy to do it. For our Earth Fed Muscle review, we had GGR Head of Content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, give us her thoughts on EFM’s Ca-Cow protein.
Earth Fed Muscle Protein
Earth Fed Muscle Ca-Cow
Product Highlights
- Protein from whey
- Grass-fed and sustainable
- Clean ingredients
- No fillers or synthetic ingredients
- GMP certified
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easily mixed
- Hormone-free
- Only 4 ingredients
- Soy and gluten-free
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Stevia may cause digestive discomfort for some people
- Some users report difficulty mixing in cold liquid
Bottom Line
With an average protein content and a higher cost per serving, this protein powder is better for those looking for a clean protein option rather than those just looking for great-tasting protein.
A Quick Look at Earth Fed Muscle Grass-Fed Whey Protein
Earth Fed Muscle, or EFM for fans, prides itself on using Truly Grass Fed™ whey isolate because they claim it’s better for the animals, better for the earth, and fuels our bodies as nature intended.
Along with protein powder, EFM also makes pre-workout, protein bars, plant based protein, creatine, collagen, and more. Their plant based protein is derived mainly from peas, however, so it won’t have all the branched-chain amino acids and essential amino acids that their whey offers.
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Before You Buy
- If you plan on ordering recurringly, you can get a substantial discount by ordering from the company website
- Contains no creatine or added BCAAs
- This protein is gluten-free
Is Earth Fed Muscle Protein Worth It?
Earth Fed Muscle offers whey, casein, and plant based protein that are all made with minimal formulation. Just high-quality, great tasting protein. However, the price tag may be steep for some.
Great for:
- Those looking to increase the quantity of their protein intake from a clean source
- Individuals open to investing in a grass-fed dairy supplement
- People who value brands that prioritize animal welfare
Not recommended for:
- People trying to hit their macros on a budget
- Those trying to put on mass
- Athletes restricted to only taking third-party tested supplements
Earth Fed Muscle Protein Specs
| Price per serving | $1.86 |
| Serving size | 31 g |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Salted Chocolate, Vanilla, Peanut Butter Cup, Unflavored, Cookies & Cream, Mocha, Strawberry, Berry, and Banana (also some seasonal flavors) |
| Calories per serving | 120 |
| Protein per serving | 25 g |
| Carbs per serving | 3 g |
| Fat per serving | 0.5 g |
| Sweeteners | Organic Stevia |
| Third-party tested? | No |
Experience Using Earth Fed Muscle Protein
According to Kate Meier, GGR Head of Content and CrossFit Level 1 trainer, you can clearly taste the difference in quality when it comes to grass fed whey protein. “This is probably the cleanest tasting protein I’ve ever had,” Kate says after trying the Ca-Cow! chocolate flavor. “You can tell there isn’t a bunch of crap in it.”
Which makes sense! This chocolate grass fed protein only contains four ingredients: grass-fed whey, organic cacao beans, organic stevia, and sunflower lecithin. Since sunflower lecithin is an emulsifier, it is commonly used in protein powder to help ensure solubility when mixing.
Price Per Serving
There are 29 scoops, or servings, in a 2-pound tub of Earth Fed Muscle protein. This comes out to be about $1.86 USD per serving, which is higher than the market average compared to other popular whey protein powder brands. This is often the case, however, with truly grass fed whey protein products.
RELATED: What Is Protein Isolate?
Formulation
It’s important to note that the Ca-Cow! Flavor only has four ingredients, however some of the brands’ other flavors like Cookies & Cream may have several more ingredients. Still, all available flavors of this grass fed whey protein isolate are all natural and free of refined sugars, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, soy, and gluten.
Here is the full list of ingredients for Ca-Cow: Truly Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Stevia, Sunflower Lecithin. That’s it! Stevia is a natural sweetener and the organic cocoa powder is for flavor, but let’s talk about the “Truly Grass Fed Whey Protein” part.
The term “grass-fed” has become somewhat of a buzzword, so let’s define it clearly. It refers to products that come from cows that have been fed their natural diet of grass rather than the conventional grain-based feed most cows receive.
Cows fed on this diet tend to store less fat and the fat they do store produces dairy and beef that is better for our bodies1 than conventional dairy from cows that have been fed with grain. Researchers have found that grass-fed beef and milk contain more nutrients2 than grain-fed products. They contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which make them more heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory.
RELATED: Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Why aren’t all whey products truly grass fed? How have we been open to low-quality traditional whey protein powder for all of these years?” Well, just a minute—there’s a major catch.
The nutrients mentioned above are found in the milk fat and beef fat from grass-fed cows. Emphasis on fat. This is important because, by definition, whey isolate is a protein. A high-quality protein powder is processed so it has as little carbohydrate and fat content as possible. This makes sense as you expect protein to be present when you pay for protein, not fat.
In other words, no fat means no extra nutrients. But grass fed whey protein powder must have a higher quality of protein, right? Not quite. Research has not proven that grass-fed whey is superior for muscle building than regular whey. Both products still contain similar amounts of amino acids including BCAAs, glycine, alanine, and arginine.
So, it’s your choice to pay for grass fed whey protein powder due to ethical reasons, environmental reasons, or the fact that it tends to be some of the best tasting protein powder, just don’t expect superior nutrition.
Taste and Solubility
When referencing the customer reviews and our GGR experience, the consensus seems to be that this brand gets a 5 out of 5 rating for taste. Kate says, “I’ve had chocolate and vanilla whey protein from Earth Fed, and I love them both! Started ordering Earth Fed probably about 5 years ago.”
Kate reports the protein even has a great taste when mixed with water, which would pique the interest of those who insist on using milk in their protein shake. “Around fall, they release pumpkin! Also, even blended with water, this protein has a very smooth, rich taste,” Kate says. “I can drink just this and water and be a happy camper!” For solubility, we rated Earth Fed a 4.5 out of 5. “Blends great in blender bottles,” Kate notes. “Only some small clumps.”
Side Effects
When taken as directed, whey protein is safe for most adults. Very high doses can cause bowel movement changes, acne, nausea, thirst, bloating, sleep issues, and headaches. There were no whey protein side effects reported by our tester, however, and most people who aren’t dairy-sensitive shouldn’t have any, either.
Third-Party Testing
At this time, Earth Fed Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate is not third-party tested by a recognized body. However, products are manufactured in a GMP-compliant facility and their labels are transparent with no proprietary blends.
Comparison to Transparent Labs Whey Isolate
Transparent Labs Whey
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Product Highlights
- High-quality whey protein isolate
- 28 grams of protein per serving
- 15 flavors to choose from
- $1.99 per serving
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High-quality protein
- No artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or preservatives
- Lots of flavors to choose from
- Good customer reviews
- Whey isolate may be easier to digest for some people
- Subscribe and save 10% plus free shipping
Cons
- Price per serving on the high end
- Some reviews complain that it's too sweet
Bottom Line
Our testers love Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate because we know exactly what's in it, and almost every flavor we've tried is a 5 out of 5 on taste. Yes, it's a little more expensive than other protein powders but you get what you pay for.
Transparent Labs is a brand that gets glowing customer reviews and is known for producing some of the best protein powder. When compared to EFM, Transparent Labs’ whey protein is also grass-fed and has a similar calorie and macro profile.
However, Transparent Labs has 3 grams more protein per serving and is slightly more expensive. That said, it is third-party tested, which makes it a safer product for athletes and could account for the increased price.
Read our full Transparent Labs Protein review to learn more.
| Earth Fed Muscle Protein | Transparent Labs Whey Isolate | |
| Price per serving (USD) | $1.86 | $2.00 |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Salted Chocolate, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Unflavored, Cookies & Cream, Mocha, Strawberry Feels and Go! Bananas | Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon French Toast, Strawberry, Mocha, Vanilla Peanut Butter, French Vanilla, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie |
| Calories per serving | 120 | 120 |
| Protein per serving | 25 g | 28 g |
| Carbs per serving | 3 g | 1 g |
| Fat per serving | 0.5 g | 0 g |
| Sweeteners | Organic Stevia | Stevia |
| Third-party tested? | No | Yes |
Customer Experience
Due to the nature of the product, returns are not accepted if ordering from Amazon. When ordering directly from Earth Fed Muscle, there is a 60-day return policy if you want a refund and the product has to be unused and not open.
Kate says she never had to use their customer service, but the method of contacting them for assistance is limited. “There is only a contact form on the website,” Kate reports. “I did find it easy to cancel my subscription when I had it.”
Ordering Earth Fed Muscle Protein
When ordering from Amazon, purchase follows the typical flow of checkout. If ordering from the company’s website, you can save 30% with the subscribe and save option, which is a higher discount than usual for the program. You can opt for deliveries every 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 weeks and decrease quantity of deliveries whenever you like.
Customer Reviews
Earth Fed Muscle’s chocolate grass fed protein is rated 4.9 out of 5 based on 678 total reviews on the company website, with most praising the great taste and stating it was the first time they tried a protein that didn’t bother their stomach.
On Amazon, the product is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 145 total reviews. Most people loved the taste and quality, but some were dissatisfied with the cost.
Final Verdict of Our Earth Fed Muscle Review
Protein powder makes life easy for people looking to increase quantity of protein in their diet, but who struggle to get it from food. Due to whole-food sources being the best way to get in protein, when you do have to turn to a supplement, choosing one with minimal ingredients like Earth Fed Muscle is one of the better choices. Here are some of our favorite things about EFM’s whey:
- Provides BCAAs including leucine, isoleucine, and valine
- Comes in lots of fun flavors, including seasonal ones
- No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, fillers, gluten, or soy
If you like clean sports nutrition products, consider also checking out EFM’s creatine, pre-workout, protein bars, and collagen.
Full Rating
Earth Fed Muscle Protein Powder
With an average protein content and a higher cost per serving, this protein powder is better for those looking for a clean protein option rather than those just looking for great-tasting protein.
Product Brand: Earth Fed Muscle
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 59.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.2
Earth Fed Muscle Protein: FAQs
What is the best-tasting protein powder?
The whey or casein protein powder with the best taste is highly subjective. However, most grass-fed brands get raving total reviews on their great taste due to the quality of the milk it is derived from. Our roundup of the best-tasting protein powder has suggestions for a variety of needs:-Best-Tasting Protein Powder Overall: XWERKS Grow
-Best-Tasting Grass-Fed Protein Powder: Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
-Best-Tasting Casein Protein Powder: Legion Athletics Banana Cream Pie Casein
-Best-Tasting Plant-Based Protein Powder: Ritual Essential Protein 18+
-Best Unique Flavor: Kaged Re-Kaged Orange Kream
-Best-Tasting Fruity Protein Powder: SEEQ Clear Whey Isolate
-Best-Tasting Vanilla Protein Powder: Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake Whey Protein Powder
-Best-Tasting Chocolate Protein Powder: Earth Fed Muscle Ca-Cow Chocolate Whey Protein
-Best-Tasting Organic Protein Powder: Truvani Organic Chocolate Plant-Based Protein Powder
-Best-Tasting Vegan Protein Powder: KOS Vegan Protein Powder
-Best-Tasting Personalized Protein Powder: Gainful
-Best-Tasting Unflavored Collagen Protein Powder: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder
-Best-Tasting Budget Protein Powder: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
-Best-Tasting Unflavored Protein Powder: Now Sports Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate
What is the best vanilla protein powder?
Regardless of the flavor, the best protein powder is one that has plenty of branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, along with minimal artificial ingredients or proprietary blends which can leave consumers open to exposure to contaminants.
Is Earth Fed Muscle protein powder good?
Most customer reviews claim Earth Fed Muscle is among the best tasting protein powders and the lack of artificial flavors, sweeteners, or fillers makes it a high-quality product.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Daley CA, Abbott A, Doyle PS, Nader GA, Larson S. A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Nutr J. 2010;9:10. Published 2010 Mar 10. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-10
- Benbrook CM, Butler G, Latif MA, Leifert C, Davis DR. Organic production enhances milk nutritional quality by shifting fatty acid composition: a United States-wide, 18-month study. PLoS One. 2013;8(12):e82429. Published 2013 Dec 9. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0082429
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