Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Whole Milk: 8g Protein per Cup, Labelgrade B+ (80/100)

The short answer

Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Whole Milk gives you 8 g of protein for 160 calories per cup — the exact protein of any ordinary glass of whole milk, because that’s what it is. The twist is on the label: USDA-certified organic milk with a dose of vegetarian DHA omega-3 (grown from algae, not fish) stirred in. It earns a Labelgrade B+ (80/100). A three-ingredient panel and zero added sugar push the grade up; ordinary milk-protein density and the saturated fat that comes with whole-milk fat hold it back. The honest reason to reach for this carton over a generic one isn’t the macros — it’s the organic sourcing and the brain-and-eye DHA, which is why families with kids are the core buyer.

Why the B+

The fiber “F” is structural — milk has no fiber and the grade doesn’t pretend otherwise. The two grades that actually decide this score are protein density (C-) and saturated fat (A-): the first is just what milk is, and the second is the price of choosing whole over reduced-fat.

The DHA is the whole reason this carton exists

Strip out the DHA algal oil and this is a generic organic whole milk. That one ingredient is the entire premise. It’s docosahexaenoic acid — the long-chain omega-3 your brain and retina are built from — sourced from marine algae rather than fish, which is the clever part: vegetarian, sustainable, and with none of the fishy off-taste that kills a kid’s willingness to drink it.

Two honest caveats. First, the DHA does nothing to the protein, sugar, or sodium math — it’s a functional top-up bolted onto otherwise-plain milk, not a nutritional overhaul. Second, the per-cup dose is modest; this is a gentle daily nudge of omega-3, not a stand-in for a dedicated fish-oil or algae supplement if you’re chasing the higher intakes used in clinical studies. Think of it as insurance for picky eaters who’ll drink milk but won’t touch salmon — which is precisely the family it’s sold to.

On protein, it’s a dead heat with plain milk

The takeaway from this table is what doesn’t separate the products. Against Lactaid’s whole milk the numbers are a carbon copy — 8 g protein, 160 calories, 5 g saturated fat, zero added sugar — the only real differences being Horizon’s organic certification and DHA versus Lactaid’s lactase enzyme for the lactose-intolerant. Silk’s soy milk matches the 8 g protein at 50 fewer calories and a fraction of the saturated fat, but it’s a different drink: plant-based, with 4 g of added cane sugar and a longer additive list. The Kraft slice is in the table only to make the point that if you’re shopping milk for protein, you’re in the wrong aisle entirely — a Greek yogurt or whey scoop doubles or triples what any of these glasses deliver.

What you’re actually buying it for

The 8 g of protein here is roughly the protein in one large egg — a nice daily contribution, not a reason to choose this carton. The real nutritional weight sits elsewhere: 300 mg of calcium per cup (about a quarter of the Daily Value), the added vitamin D3, and the DHA omega-3. The clean call is to buy this if you specifically want plain organic whole milk and like the idea of a little built-in omega-3 for the household — especially the kids. If your goal is protein, milk is the wrong tool; if your goal is fewer calories, the 2% DHA version (~120 cal) gets you there at the same 8 g.

Ingredients

Grade A organic milk, DHA algal oil*, vitamin D3. (Verbatim from the USDA Branded Foods entry, FDC 2757696. The asterisk flags the algal oil as an ingredient not found in regular milk.)

🔬 Compare this product side-by-side with any other →

See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator

Scope: This page applies specifically to Horizon Organic DHA Omega-3 Whole Milk · UPC 00742365264979. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.