Ensure Clear Mixed Berry, 235mL, Case of 24

A significant proportion of residents in Canadian long-term care and hospital settings resist or refuse standard milk-based oral nutritional supplements. The reasons vary: dairy aversion, lactose sensitivity, supplement fatigue from months of the same products, post-operative nausea, or simply a strong preference for fruit-based beverages over milky drinks. Ensure Clear exists specifically to serve this population delivering clinically meaningful protein in a form that more closely resembles a fruit juice or sports drink than a nutritional shake.

The clear, light texture also makes Ensure Clear one of the few protein-containing drinks that can be appropriate for use during clear-fluid diet periods such as pre-colonoscopy, pre-surgical bowel preparation, or early post-operative days when solid food or opaque liquids are restricted but some nutritional support is still needed. Confirm appropriateness for each clinical context with the attending physician or dietitian, as specific clear-fluid protocol requirements vary by institution and procedure.

Mixed Berry is consistently the most requested Ensure Clear flavour. Its mild sweetness and familiar fruit-punch profile is broadly accepted across age groups and cultural backgrounds, making it a low-risk formulary addition for diverse care populations. For facilities that rotate supplements across multiple flavours to maintain resident interest, Mixed Berry pairs well with the standard Ensure Plus range in a rotation schedule alternating a clear beverage day with a milky supplement day can dramatically improve long-term compliance.

From a practical kitchen standpoint, Ensure Clear in the 235mL ready-to-drink format requires no preparation, no blending and no special serving equipment. Cans can be served chilled from a refrigerator or at room temperature. The product does not require refrigeration until opened cases can be stored in a standard dry goods area with a shelf life measured in months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Ensure Clear different from standard Ensure Plus?

Ensure Clear is a clear, water-based beverage it looks and pours like a fruit juice rather than a milky drink. It has a lower calorie content per serving (approximately 180 cal vs 350 cal in Ensure Plus) but delivers 10g of protein in a format tolerated by residents who cannot or will not drink milk-based supplements. The two products serve different clinical and preference profiles within the same supplement programme.

Can it be used on a clear-fluid diet?

Ensure Clear is a clear beverage and may be appropriate in some clear-fluid diet contexts, pre-surgical protocols that allow protein-containing clear fluids. However, institutional clear-fluid diet definitions vary. Always confirm with the attending physician or clinical dietitian whether Ensure Clear meets the specific clear-fluid requirement for each patient and procedure.

Is it dairy-free?

Ensure Clear contains whey protein, which is derived from milk. It is not suitable for individuals with milk protein allergy. It is generally lower in lactose than standard Ensure products, but residents with confirmed milk protein allergy should not receive it. Verify current allergen labelling before serving to any resident with a known food allergy.

How much protein does each can provide?

Each 235mL serving provides approximately 10 grams of protein. For residents with high protein needs wound healing, muscle wasting, post-fracture recovery Ensure Clear may be used alongside a higher-protein supplement or food sources to meet total daily targets. Your dietitian can help calculate the appropriate protocol for each resident.

Can it be served mixed with other beverages?

Some facilities mix Ensure Clear into sports drinks or juices to dilute the sweetness for residents with sensory sensitivity to high-sugar flavours. This is generally acceptable from a safety standpoint but alters the portion and nutrient delivery. Any modification to the prescribed supplementation protocol should be reviewed by the dietitian overseeing the resident's nutrition care plan.

What is the shelf life and how should cases be stored?

Unopened Ensure Clear has a shelf life of approximately 12 months from manufacture when stored at room temperature in a cool, dry area. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within 24–48 hours. Serve chilled or at room temperature residents generally prefer it cold. Check best-before dates on incoming stock and rotate inventory first-in, first-out.

Are other Ensure Clear flavours available?

Abbott produces Ensure Clear in a small number of flavours. Mixed Berry is the most widely stocked in Canada. Contact us to confirm current availability of other flavours and to discuss a multi-flavour order that supports a rotation protocol for your facility.

Do you offer case quantity discounts?

Yes. Pricing is structured per case, and accounts purchasing multiple cases at a time or setting up standing monthly orders can access better per-case rates. Contact our healthcare accounts team to discuss volume arrangements aligned to your facility's monthly consumption patterns.

Who Orders This?

• A long-term care dietitian adds Ensure Clear to the facility formulary as a third supplement option for residents on flavour rotation who have reached the limits of milk-based shake acceptance after many months on the same products.
• A hospital dietary department orders it specifically for surgical wards where pre- and post-operative clear fluid protocols require a protein-containing clear option to support patient recovery nutrition.
• A retirement community activities director adds it to the afternoon beverages trolley as a protein supplement served alongside regular juices, knowing that the clear format does not look medical and faces less resistance from residents who do not enjoy supplement drinks.
• A palliative care dietitian includes it in comfort supplement options for patients in late-stage care who prefer fruit-flavoured beverages and find milk-based products heavy or unappealing.
• A food service purchasing manager at a multi-site care group standardises on Ensure Clear Mixed Berry as the clear-supplement option across all sites, ordering monthly through ChickenPieces alongside the standard Ensure Plus cases on a combined healthcare account.
• A home care coordinator includes it in weekly supply deliveries for elderly clients with a long-standing dairy aversion who need supplemental protein during a period of unintended weight loss.