Ensure Drinks Compared: Nutrition, Uses, and Best Types

Ensure Drinks Compared: Nutrition, Uses, and Best TypesEnsure Drinks Compared: Nutrition, Uses, and Best Types

Choosing between Ensure drinks isn’t as simple as picking chocolate or vanilla. Ensure Original, Plus, Complete, Clear, Compact, and Max Protein provide very different amounts of calories, protein, sugar, fat, and fluid.

Some products provide complete, balanced nutrition, while others focus mainly on protein or carbohydrates. This guide compares current U.S. formulas, explains who each option may suit, and highlights important safety and storage details.

Quick Answer

Ensure drinks are nutrition shakes and clear beverages made for adults. Ensure Original supports general supplemental nutrition, Plus adds more calories, Complete adds calories and protein, and Max Protein focuses on protein. Ensure Clear and surgery products have specialized uses and shouldn’t be treated as ordinary meal replacements.

TL;DR

Original is the standard everyday nutrition shake.

Plus packs 350 calories into eight ounces.

Complete combines 350 calories with 30 grams of protein.

Max Protein formulas provide 30 or 42 grams of protein.

Clear contains no fat and isn’t complete nutrition.

Surgery products should follow medical instructions.

• Always verify the bottle because formulas can change.

Ensure Drinks at a Glance

The table below compares widely available U.S. Ensure products. Values were checked against manufacturer information available on July 19, 2026.

Formulas may differ by flavor, package size, and sales channel. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on your bottle as the final reference.

Ensure ProductServingCaloriesProteinSugarBest Suited For
Ensure Original8 fl oz2209gVaries by flavorGeneral supplemental nutrition
Ensure Plus8 fl oz35016gVaries by flavorAdding calories in less fluid
Ensure Complete10 fl oz35030gAbout 15gHigher calories and protein
Ensure High Protein8 fl oz16016g4gModerate protein with fewer calories
Ensure Max Protein 30g11 fl oz15030g1gHigh protein with fewer calories
Ensure Max Protein 42g14 fl oz22042g2gActive adults needing high protein
Max Protein 2-in-1Check label16030g1gProtein plus calcium HMB
Ensure Plant-BasedCheck label18020gCheck labelDairy-free nutrition
Ensure ClearCheck label1808g18gFruit-style, fat-free supplement
Ensure Compact4 fl oz2209gCheck labelSmall appetite or limited drink volume
Ensure SurgeryCheck label33018gCheck labelClinician-directed surgical nutrition
Ensure Pre-SurgeryCheck label2000gCheck labelClinician-approved pre-surgery carbohydrates

Important: Clear, High Protein, Max Protein, and Pre-Surgery products don’t serve the same purpose as complete, balanced formulas.

What Are Ensure Drinks?

What Are Ensure Drinks?
What Are Ensure Drinks?

Ensure is a line of adult oral nutrition products made by Abbott Nutrition. The range includes creamy shakes, clear fruit-flavored drinks, powder, small-volume products, and specialized surgical formulas.

These drinks can add calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals when regular food intake falls short. However, the nutrition profile changes greatly from one formula to another.

Common reasons adults use Ensure include:

• Adding calories during periods of reduced appetite

• Increasing protein intake

• Supporting a professionally planned recovery diet

• Replacing an occasional missed meal

• Adding a convenient between-meal snack

• Managing difficulty finishing large portions

• Choosing a small-volume nutrition option

• Following specific pre-surgery or recovery instructions

Ensure is mainly marketed for adults. Parents should use an age-appropriate children’s product when a pediatrician recommends supplemental nutrition for a child.

Which Ensure Drink Is Best?

There is no single “best” Ensure drink. The right choice depends on whether you need more calories, more protein, less fluid, a dairy-free formula, or a specialized product.

Use this quick selection guide as a starting point:

Your Main GoalProduct to Compare FirstWhy
General supplemental nutritionEnsure OriginalBalanced calories, protein, fat, and micronutrients
Gain or maintain weightEnsure Plus350 calories in an eight-ounce bottle
Add calories and more proteinEnsure Complete350 calories and 30 grams of protein
Moderate extra proteinEnsure High Protein16 grams of protein with 160 calories
High protein, fewer caloriesMax Protein 30g30 grams of protein with 150 calories
Highest retail protein optionMax Protein 42g42 grams of complete protein
Dairy-free preferencePlant-Based ProteinUses plant protein rather than dairy protein
Small drink volumeEnsure CompactOriginal-style nutrition in four ounces
Fruit-like textureEnsure ClearFat-free and less creamy
Surgical nutritionSurgery or Pre-SurgeryUse only under care-team instructions

A higher number isn’t automatically better. Someone needing calories may benefit more from Plus than a lower-calorie protein shake, even though Plus contains less protein.

Ensure Original: Best for Everyday Supplemental Nutrition

Ensure Original is the standard formula most shoppers recognize. An eight-ounce bottle currently provides 220 calories, 9 grams of protein, and 27 vitamins and minerals.

It is considered a complete, balanced nutrition product. That means it includes protein, carbohydrates, fat, and a broad mix of micronutrients.

Best for

• Adults wanting a general nutrition supplement

• Occasional meal replacement

• A convenient breakfast addition

• Between-meal nutrition

• People who don’t need a very high protein dose

Current flavor options

Availability varies, but U.S. flavors may include:

• Milk Chocolate

• Vanilla

• Strawberry

• Dark Chocolate

• Butter Pecan

• Banana Nut

• Coffee Latte

Practical verdict

Choose Original when you need a middle-of-the-road option. Move to Plus when calorie density matters, or Complete when you need much more protein.

Ensure Plus: Best for Adding Calories in Less Fluid

Ensure Plus: Best for Adding Calories in Less Fluid
Ensure Plus: Best for Adding Calories in Less Fluid

Ensure Plus provides 350 calories and 16 grams of protein in eight ounces. It packs about 59% more calories than Original into the same drink volume.

That calorie density can matter when someone gets full quickly. It may be easier to drink eight ounces than eat another full meal.

Original vs. Plus

FeatureEnsure OriginalEnsure Plus
Serving size8 fl oz8 fl oz
Calories220350
Protein9g16g
Calories per ounce27.543.8
Main roleGeneral nutritionAdded calories and protein

Best for

• Adults following a planned higher-calorie diet

• People struggling to eat larger portions

• Between-meal calorie support

• Adults at nutrition risk under professional guidance

• People who need more calories without more fluid

Practical verdict

Plus is the most calorie-dense choice among Original, Plus, and Complete. It supplies about 44 calories per ounce. Complete supplies about 35 calories per ounce because its bottle is larger.

Unexpected weight loss needs medical attention. Adding shakes without finding the cause can delay important care.

Ensure Complete: Best for Higher Calories and Protein

Ensure Complete provides 350 calories and 30 grams of protein in a 10-ounce serving. It combines the calorie level of Plus with almost twice as much protein.

The tradeoff is volume. Complete requires drinking two more ounces than Plus and may feel more filling.

Plus vs. Complete

FeatureEnsure PlusEnsure Complete
Serving size8 fl oz10 fl oz
Calories350350
Protein16g30g
Calories per ounce43.835
Protein per 100 calories4.6g8.6g
Better fitMore calories in less liquidMore protein at the same calories

Choose Plus when

• Drink volume is a major concern

• The main goal is adding calories

• A 10-ounce bottle feels too filling

Choose Complete when

• Both calories and protein matter

• A larger serving is manageable

• The protein amount fits your daily nutrition plan

Practical verdict

Neither formula is universally better. Plus wins for calorie density, while Complete wins for protein density.

Ensure High Protein vs. Max Protein

The names sound similar, but these products have very different nutrition profiles. Ensure High Protein provides a moderate protein serving, while Max Protein targets much higher intake.

They also contain fewer calories than Original, Plus, or Complete. That makes them less suitable when adding calories is the main goal.

ProductCaloriesProteinSugarMain Difference
High Protein16016g4gModerate protein dose
Max Protein 30g15030g1gMore protein with fewer calories
Max Protein 42g22042g2gHighest protein retail formula
Max Protein 2-in-116030g1gAdds calcium HMB

Ensure High Protein

This eight-ounce shake provides 16 grams of protein, 160 calories, and 4 grams of sugar. It is available in flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

It works as a protein-focused snack but doesn’t supply the calories of a balanced Plus or Complete shake.

Max Protein 30g

The familiar 11-ounce Max Protein formula provides 30 grams of protein, 150 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 4 grams of fiber.

Some flavors contain caffeine. Café Mocha currently provides about 100 milligrams, similar to a typical cup of coffee.

Max Protein 42g

This 14-ounce formula provides 42 grams of complete protein, 220 calories, 2 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fiber, and all nine essential amino acids.

It is designed for active adults and should be paired with resistance training when the goal is building muscle tissue.

Max Protein 2-in-1 Muscle Support

This newer formula provides 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 1.5 grams of calcium HMB per serving.

Abbott states that two daily servings supply 3 grams of calcium HMB. Whether that amount fits your needs should be discussed with a qualified professional.

Practical verdict

Choose based on your actual protein target. More protein isn’t automatically more useful, especially when total calories, kidney function, and regular food intake are considered.

Ensure Plant-Based Protein: The Dairy-Free Option

Ensure Plant-Based Protein provides approximately 180 calories and 20 grams of plant protein. Current formulas use fava bean and pea protein rather than dairy protein.

Chocolate and vanilla are the main flavors. The sweetener blend may include organic cane sugar, stevia, and monk fruit.

Who may prefer it?

• Adults following a vegan eating pattern

• People avoiding dairy ingredients

• Shoppers who prefer plant protein

• Adults wanting more protein than Original provides

Important cautions

Dairy-free doesn’t mean allergen-free. Review the full ingredient and allergen statements before buying.

Plant protein shakes can also taste and feel different from milk-based formulas. Chilling and shaking the bottle well may improve the texture.

Ensure Clear: A Fruit-Style Drink, Not Complete Nutrition

Ensure Clear is a fat-free, fruit-flavored nutrition drink. The current Blueberry Pomegranate formula provides 180 calories, 8 grams of protein, 18 grams of sugar, and 15 vitamins and minerals.

It has a lighter, juice-like texture. Current flavors include Blueberry Pomegranate and Mixed Fruit.

What makes Ensure Clear different?

• It contains zero grams of fat

• It tastes more like a fruit drink

• It provides less protein than most creamy formulas

• It isn’t complete, balanced nutrition

• It may fit certain clear-liquid or fat-restricted plans

• It shouldn’t be confused with Ensure Pre-Surgery

A medically ordered clear-liquid diet has specific rules. Don’t assume every transparent beverage is allowed before a procedure.

Ensure Compact: Most Nutrition in the Least Fluid

Ensure Compact provides 220 calories and 9 grams of protein in only four ounces. It delivers Original-style balanced nutrition in half the liquid volume.

That equals about 55 calories per ounce, making Compact more calorie-dense by volume than Original, Plus, or Complete.

Who may find Compact useful?

• Adults who struggle to finish a full shake

• People with a small appetite

• Those who tire while eating or drinking

• Adults following a professionally managed fluid limit

• Caregivers seeking a smaller serving

Compact is available in Milk Chocolate and Vanilla. It still counts toward daily fluid intake, so people with fluid restrictions need professional guidance.

Ensure Powder vs. Ready-to-Drink Bottles

Ensure Powder vs. Ready-to-Drink Bottles
Ensure Powder vs. Ready-to-Drink Bottles

Ensure Original Nutrition Powder offers a mix-at-home alternative. Powder may cost less per serving and takes less storage space than cases of bottles.

Ready-to-drink products offer better convenience and consistent mixing. They can be easier for travel, caregiving, or low-energy days.

FeatureEnsure PowderReady-to-Drink
PreparationRequires measuring and mixingShake and open
PortabilityEasy before mixingEasier for immediate use
ConsistencyDepends on preparationConsistent bottle to bottle
StorageDry storage before mixingShelf-stable before opening
CostOften lower per servingUsually higher
Safety concernClean water and equipmentRefrigeration after opening

Never add extra powder to make the drink stronger unless a qualified professional instructs you. Changing the powder-to-water ratio alters nutrient and fluid intake.

Specialized Ensure Surgery Drinks

Ensure Surgery and Pre-Surgery are not ordinary breakfast shakes. They are specialized products intended for use around surgery.

Follow the instructions from your surgeon, anesthesiologist, hospital, or dietitian. Their directions take priority over anything printed in a general guide.

Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake

The current vanilla formula provides:

330 calories

18 grams of protein

4.2 grams of arginine

1.1 grams of EPA and DHA omega-3 fats

The formula is designed for a planned surgical nutrition routine. It contains fish oil, which matters for people with fish allergies or specific medication concerns.

Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Carbohydrate Drink

The current strawberry formula provides:

200 calories

50 grams of carbohydrates

• Zinc and selenium

• No meaningful protein or fat

The manufacturer gives specific timing instructions, but patients should use the schedule approved by their own surgical team. Some operations, health conditions, and anesthesia plans require different fasting rules.

Ensure Clear vs. Pre-Surgery

These two products aren’t interchangeable:

FeatureEnsure ClearEnsure Pre-Surgery
Protein8g0g
Calories180200
Main roleFruit-style nutrition supplementPre-surgery carbohydrate drink
Complete nutritionNoNo
Use before surgeryOnly if approvedOnly as specifically directed

Therapeutic and Hard-to-Find Ensure Products

Some Abbott Nutrition products are sold mainly through medical suppliers, hospitals, or institutional channels. They may not appear beside regular Ensure bottles at a local store.

One example is Ensure Plus High Protein Therapeutic Nutrition Shake. It provides 350 calories and 20 grams of protein per eight-ounce carton and is labeled for supplemental use under medical supervision.

The official consumer catalog also lists or references products such as Ensure Enlive and Ensure Light. However, availability and working product pages can change.

Before buying a discontinued-looking or imported formula:

• Confirm the exact product name

• Check the expiration date

• Inspect the safety seal

• Review the country-specific label

• Avoid products with damaged packaging

• Don’t assume international formulas match U.S. products

• Compare serving size before comparing nutrients

• Verify whether medical supervision is recommended

Are Ensure Drinks Good for Seniors?

Ensure can be useful for some older adults, but age alone isn’t a reason to use it. The important question is whether the person has trouble meeting calorie, protein, or nutrient needs through regular food.

Possible reasons to consider a nutrition drink include:

• Reduced appetite

• Difficulty preparing meals

• Problems chewing

• Fatigue during meals

• Smaller portion tolerance

• Recovery after illness

• Unplanned weight loss

• Increased protein needs

Nutrition drinks can also reduce appetite when served too close to meals. When the goal is increasing total intake, they are often easier to fit between meals.

Persistent weight loss, swallowing trouble, coughing during meals, dizziness, weakness, or dehydration requires medical assessment. A shake doesn’t correct the cause of those symptoms.

Can Ensure Replace a Meal?

Ensure Original, Plus, and Complete can serve as an occasional meal replacement. They contain carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

However, regularly replacing several meals can reduce dietary variety, fiber intake, chewing activity, and enjoyment of food. It may also provide too many or too few calories.

Ways to make an occasional meal more complete

Depending on appetite and dietary needs, pair a shake with:

• A banana or berries

• Whole-grain toast

• A small bowl of soup

• Crackers and cheese

• Peanut butter toast

• A hard-boiled egg

• A small salad

• Yogurt

Protein-focused products and Ensure Clear shouldn’t automatically be treated as complete meals. Their nutrition profiles serve different purposes.

Ingredients, Sugar, and Sweeteners

Traditional creamy Ensure formulas often include water, carbohydrate ingredients, milk proteins, vegetable oils, soy protein, vitamins, minerals, flavors, and stabilizers.

The exact ingredient order changes by formula and flavor. A product with more calories may contain more carbohydrates, fat, protein, or a combination of all three.

Common ingredients readers ask about

Maltodextrin and corn syrup

These ingredients provide carbohydrates and help increase calories. They aren’t automatically harmful, but they matter for people monitoring carbohydrate intake.

Milk protein concentrate and caseinates

These supply dairy-based protein. A product may be suitable for lactose intolerance while still containing milk protein.

Soy protein isolate and soy lecithin

Soy ingredients appear in several traditional formulas. People with a soy allergy must check every package.

Stevia and monk fruit

Some lower-sugar and plant-based formulas use high-intensity sweeteners. Taste and digestive tolerance vary by person.

Vitamin K

Fortified drinks can contain vitamin K. People taking warfarin should keep vitamin K intake consistent and discuss major dietary changes with their prescriber.

Allergies and Special Diets

Many Ensure drinks are labeled gluten-free and suitable for lactose intolerance. That doesn’t make every formula safe for every allergy or medical diet.

Important distinctions

Lactose intolerance isn’t a milk allergy.

• Many creamy formulas contain milk and soy proteins.

• Plant-Based Protein should still be checked for other allergens.

• Ensure Surgery contains fish oil.

• Café-style products may contain significant caffeine.

• Ensure products aren’t suitable for people with galactosemia.

• Halal and kosher status can vary by formula.

• Strawberry flavoring may contain strawberry-derived ingredients.

Read the label every time. Manufacturers can change ingredients, suppliers, colors, sweeteners, or facilities.

Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Other Medical Conditions

People with diabetes shouldn’t choose an Ensure formula based only on the sugar number. Total carbohydrates, serving size, medication, meal timing, and glucose response also matter.

Abbott sells Glucerna as a separate product line designed for people with diabetes. It is not simply another flavor of Ensure.

Kidney disease may change appropriate levels of:

• Protein

• Potassium

• Phosphorus

• Sodium

• Fluid

Abbott’s Nepro products are formulated for certain kidney-related nutrition needs. Standard Ensure and Nepro aren’t interchangeable.

People with liver disease, fluid restrictions, swallowing disorders, pregnancy, severe allergies, or complex medication schedules should seek individualized advice before using Ensure regularly.

Possible Side Effects and Common Mistakes

Some people experience bloating, gas, nausea, loose stools, constipation, or uncomfortable fullness. These symptoms can relate to serving size, drinking speed, fiber, sweeteners, milk or soy sensitivity, or overall diet.

Common mistakes include:

• Drinking a full bottle too quickly

• Starting with several daily servings

• Ignoring added calories

• Using a protein shake when calories are needed

• Treating Ensure Clear as complete nutrition

• Replacing several meals without professional guidance

• Missing caffeine in café-style formulas

• Confusing lactose intolerance with milk allergy

• Ignoring vitamin and medication interactions

• Using surgery products without care-team approval

• Concentrating powder without instructions

• Keeping opened drinks too long

Stop using a product and seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, severe hives, or other signs of a serious allergic reaction.

How Many Ensure Drinks Can You Have Per Day?

There is no universal daily amount that fits every formula or every person. A high-calorie Plus shake, a 42-gram protein bottle, and a carbohydrate-only Pre-Surgery drink cannot share one daily recommendation.

Abbott currently states that Ensure High Protein should not exceed two servings daily. Recommendations for other products depend on their intended use.

Ask a doctor or registered dietitian before drinking several bottles daily if you:

• Have diabetes

• Have kidney or liver disease

• Take warfarin

• Follow a fluid restriction

• Are losing weight unexpectedly

• Have difficulty swallowing

• Use other fortified supplements

• Plan to replace several meals

• Are preparing for surgery

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Best Ways to Serve Ensure

Most creamy Ensure drinks taste smoother and less sweet when chilled. Shake the unopened bottle well before serving.

Try these simple serving ideas:

• Pour it into a cold glass instead of drinking from the bottle.

• Serve it over ice for a lighter texture.

• Blend vanilla with berries or banana.

• Add cinnamon without increasing sweetness.

• Blend chocolate with ice for a frozen shake.

• Divide one bottle into two smaller servings.

• Warm vanilla gently in a microwave-safe cup.

• Never boil the product.

• Check caffeine before serving coffee flavors at night.

• Count added fruit, nut butter, or milk in the full nutrition total.

If thickened liquids are required for swallowing safety, don’t improvise. Follow the exact consistency recommended by a speech-language pathologist or medical team.

Storage and Food Safety

Unopened ready-to-drink Ensure bottles are shelf-stable when stored according to the package. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct heat.

After opening:

• Use the drink or refrigerate it within four hours.

• Keep refrigerated leftovers covered.

• Discard remaining product after 48 hours.

• If drinking directly from the bottle, use refrigerated leftovers within 24 hours.

• Don’t store an opened bottle in a warm car.

• Discard bottles with broken seals or swelling.

• Follow separate storage instructions for mixed powder.

• Use clean water and equipment when preparing powder.

• Transfer the drink before warming or freezing.

• Leave expansion space when freezing in a safe container.

A change in thickness can occur after chilling or freezing. Discard any product with an unusual odor, damaged seal, or unexpected appearance.

Price and Buying Tips

Prices change by store, region, flavor, pack size, and promotion. A larger case isn’t always the best deal if the flavor goes unused.

Use these buying tips:

• Compare cost per bottle, not package price alone.

• Check serving size before comparing two products.

• Try a four- or six-pack before buying a full case.

• Compare pharmacy, grocery, warehouse, and online prices.

• Look for manufacturer coupons.

• Check subscription discounts carefully.

• Confirm expiration dates on clearance products.

• Avoid damaged cases from third-party sellers.

• Compare cost per 100 calories when gaining weight.

• Compare cost per 10 grams of protein when protein is the goal.

Insurance coverage varies. Retail nutrition shakes are often paid for out of pocket, while medically necessary enteral or therapeutic nutrition may follow different plan rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink Ensure every day?

Many adults can use an appropriate Ensure drink daily. The right formula and amount depend on total food intake, health conditions, medications, and nutrition goals.

Regularly drinking several bottles deserves professional review because calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals can add up quickly.

Which Ensure has the most calories?

Ensure Plus and Ensure Complete each provide about 350 calories per retail bottle. Ensure Plus supplies those calories in eight ounces, while Complete uses a 10-ounce serving.

Some institutional or therapeutic formulas also provide 350 calories.

Which Ensure has the most protein?

Ensure Max Protein 42g provides 42 grams of complete protein per 14-ounce bottle. Ensure Complete and Max Protein 30g each provide 30 grams.

The highest-protein choice isn’t automatically the best choice for every person.

Which Ensure is best for gaining weight?

Ensure Plus is a practical first comparison because it provides 350 calories in eight ounces. Complete also provides 350 calories and adds more protein.

Unexplained weight loss requires medical assessment rather than self-treatment with shakes alone.

Which Ensure has the least sugar?

Several Max Protein products contain only 1–2 grams of sugar per bottle. However, they are protein supplements with fewer calories than Plus or Complete.

A low-sugar formula may not meet the needs of someone trying to increase calorie intake.

Does Ensure Max Protein contain caffeine?

Some Max Protein flavors do. Café Mocha currently provides about 100 milligrams of caffeine, and specially marked chocolate varieties may also contain caffeine.

Check the front label and ingredient information because not every Max Protein flavor is caffeinated.

Is Ensure good for older adults?

It may help older adults who struggle to eat enough calories or protein. It shouldn’t replace appealing meals when the person can meet their needs through food.

Reduced appetite, swallowing problems, and unexpected weight loss should be evaluated.

Can Ensure cause weight gain?

It can contribute to weight gain when it adds more calories than the body uses. Plus and Complete are especially calorie-dense.

If Ensure replaces food rather than adding to it, weight may not increase.

Are Ensure drinks dairy-free?

Most creamy Ensure products aren’t dairy-free because they contain milk-derived protein. Ensure Plant-Based Protein is the main dairy-free option.

Always check the current allergen statement.

Is Ensure Clear the same as Ensure Pre-Surgery?

No. Ensure Clear contains protein and is sold as a fat-free nutrition supplement. Pre-Surgery is a carbohydrate drink intended for a specific surgical plan.

Use either product before a procedure only when your care team approves it.

Final Verdict

Ensure Original is the most straightforward option for everyday supplemental nutrition. Ensure Plus is better when calorie density matters, while Ensure Complete combines higher calories with substantially more protein.

For targeted protein, compare High Protein, Max Protein 30g, Max Protein 42g, and 2-in-1 Muscle Support carefully. Choose Clear, Compact, Plant-Based, or surgery formulas only when their specific features match your needs.

The most important step is simple: check the exact bottle, not just the Ensure name. Serving size, calories, protein, sugar, caffeine, ingredients, and intended use can differ greatly across the product family.

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