Premier Protein Shake, Chocolate, Pack of 12

[BEFORE SHAKING, clean any "slime" from inside the neck and cap..*] [UPDATE: Costs. 03/17/25 I agree these are expensive, but so are most others. My cost when I started 3+ yrs ago was about $24/12, now it is $32/12. I have noticed varying prices, but I did discover the paper cartons are cheaper. I opted for one that said $23+/-... it ended being $25, but it's still a savings.] * * * I am an elderly woman who is suffering from kidney and heart issues. I don't have much appetite, so also losing muscle like crazy. I am looking like all those other wrinkly, skinny old people I said I wouldn't. So my doctor said high protein shakes. Okay. I started researching. Because of price and ratings I started with a couple 4-pks of Premier from a local grocery outlet. Cafe latte... Yum! Then I went to Amazon to get regular deliveries because I no longer drive. Read lots of reviews. I noticed some mentions of outlets besides Amazon. I also noticed a link to 'Premier Store'. Given the bad reviews re slime and expiration dates, I carefully made sure I wasn't ordering through an outside source. Don't know if that actually helped, but I have had very few of those issues in the past 3+ years. **Although, to make sure on the slime, I open a bottle before shaking and check inside the neck and cap, to wipe out if needed. Then re-cap and shake, shake, shake. One could also pour through a fine/tea strainer.** Besides Cafe Latte, I have tasted Peaches and Cream, Vanilla, and Strawberries and Cream. None of these are strong flavored, but I can taste the chocolate and coffee in my favorite. The Vanilla is refreshing, as is the Peaches and Cream (which has a delicate peach flavor). The Strawberries and Cream is cooling and not untasty, just not much flavor. And I have added Bananas and Cream, which is also nice but mild. One more issue: digestion. Some people's innards don't like the soy and/or the lactose. Others are more forgiving. I get some bloat but the benefit I receive outweighs any mild discomfort. Just because some people can't tolerate this product doesn't mean it's bad. My last note...lead. Lead is bad. But I have been around lead for many decades, from leaded gasoline polluting roadside blackberries (oh, no!) to lead in paint for all kinds of things. It hasn't had much impact on me (that I know of) and I am not giving these to anyone else, so, in the meantime, whatever life I have left will not be spent worrying about it. Granted, you younger people and children do need to be cautious. Ain't it fun? UPDATE: 23 Oct 2023 1. To start, the shakes I get are shipped in thick, heavy-duty boxes in which the bottles are closely and firmly packed and the company name and other pertinent info is printed on the outside. If yours isn't it is likely from an outside vendor, with issues such as expiry dates and improper storage, not to mention higher prices. 2. Regarding the slime and stomach issues, they appear to be caused by the same "problem"--- the protein. While some flavors have two types of condensed (is that the word I want?) milk proteins combined, many also have soy. The proteins sometimes separate a bit causing the slime. My suggestion above still holds. And, I'm sorry to say, the stomach issues are also caused by the milk proteins and lactose. Over 60% of Americans suffer from some level of lactose intolerance (not allergy); an individual's level of intolerance will determine how bad you feel. Oh swell! Finally, recycling the bottles: Rinse and zip off the cover which is discarded. Done. BUT if you live in either Oregon (me) or Maine you have the option to redeem the bottles for 10 cents or 5 cents, respectively, if the portion of the cover stating so is still attached. Granted it's not a lot, but it builds....the choice is yours. ( I am drinking 2-3 daily, so I am donating my $$ to our residential park's FEMA -sponsered CERT program to buy disaster supplies. [Oregon is in the middle of the Cascadia Subduction Zone --northern CA to Vancouver Island BC-- inevitable massive (9+/-) off shore earthquake. When, not if.]), Now I'm done! Have a healthy life.