Formula 1, explained

Soy protein isolate

Soy protein isolate is the protein from soya beans, separated out and dried into a powder. It is the first ingredient, so there is more of it than anything else.

Soya is unusual among plant foods because it supplies all nine essential amino acids, which is why it is called a complete protein. For comparison, the BDA lists 100g of boiled soya beans at 14g of protein.

The powder itself is 35% protein. Milk supplies the other half, which is how a finished shake reaches 18g.

Why it's in Formula 1: It is the protein base of the shake. Using a plant protein lets Herbalife make the powder from vegan-sourced ingredients.

Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass. Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.

Soya is one of the 14 allergens that must be declared on UK food labels, so every tub says it contains soy.

Fructose

Fructose is a sugar, and it is the second ingredient by weight. The NHS lists fructose among the names for added sugar on ingredient labels.

Added sugars count as free sugars, and the NHS says adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day. The sugar in the powder comes to about a fifth of that.

The label shows 18g of sugars for a shake made with milk, but 12g of that comes from the milk itself. The NHS says sugar found naturally in milk does not count as free sugar.

Why it's in Formula 1: It sweetens the shake, alongside a small amount of sweetener.

Mint and Chocolate has more sugar than the others because it contains chocolate bits. Its label shows 20g of sugars per shake made with milk.

Inulin, gluten-free oat fibre and flaxseed powder

Inulin is a type of fibre made of chains of fructose units, and the inulin used in foods is usually taken from chicory root. Oat fibre comes from oats, and flaxseed is the seed also sold as linseed.

The NHS says adults should aim for 30g of fibre a day, and most adults manage about 20g. One shake gives 5g, which is a sixth of the 30g target.

The powder is 18% fibre, so these three ingredients make up a good share of every scoop.

Why it's in Formula 1: Herbalife designs Formula 1 to provide the amount of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals a meal replacement needs. These ingredients supply the fibre part of that.

Oats are declared as an allergen because UK law lists them with the cereals containing gluten. Herbalife uses gluten-free oat fibre and labels the powder gluten-free.

Vitamins and minerals mixture

The mix adds 13 vitamins and 12 minerals, from vitamin A to iodine. Each one appears on the label with its amount per shake.

Calcium is a good example. A shake made with milk gives 423mg, and the NHS says adults need 700mg a day, so one shake covers about 60% of that.

Iron comes to 5.8mg per shake. The NHS puts adult needs at 8.7mg a day for men and 14.8mg for women aged 19 to 49.

Why it's in Formula 1: A meal replacement has to provide set amounts of vitamins and minerals, and this mixture is how Formula 1 reaches them.

Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones. Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

Some of the calcium comes from the milk, so the figures only hold when you make the shake as the label says. Made with fortified soy drink, vitamin D rises to 4.9µg because the soy drink is fortified too.

Thickeners: xanthan gum and guar gum

Xanthan gum is made by fermenting a carbohydrate with a bacterium called Xanthomonas campestris. Guar gum is ground from the seeds of the guar bean.

Both soak up water and turn it into a thicker liquid. That is what gives a Formula 1 shake its body.

Why it's in Formula 1: They thicken the shake. Ice makes it colder, but the thickness comes from these two gums.

EFSA re-evaluated both gums in 2017 and found no safety concern for the general population at the levels used in food.

Sweetener: steviol glycosides or sucralose

Steviol glycosides are the sweet compounds taken from the leaves of the stevia plant. Sucralose is a sweetener that adds sweetness without adding calories.

Vanilla Cream, Banana Cream, Strawberry Delight, Café Latte and Smooth Chocolate use steviol glycosides. Cookie Crunch and Mint and Chocolate use sucralose.

Why it's in Formula 1: It adds sweetness on top of the fructose without adding more sugar. Herbalife calls the stevia-sweetened flavours 'sweetener from natural source'.

EFSA sets an acceptable daily intake of 4mg per kg of body weight for steviol glycosides, measured as steviol. For sucralose it is 15mg per kg, which EFSA confirmed in February 2026.