Is Alesto Peanut Butter Protein Balls ultra-processed?

Protein Energy Bars Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Milk proteins

8 ingredients
No additives

Less processed protein Energy Bars

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Date Paste 30%, Peanut Paste 18%, Peanut 18%, Whey Protein Isolate (ultra-processing marker), Rice Starch (processing marker), Grape Juice Concentrate, Pink Himalayan Salt (processing marker), Tapioca Starch (processing marker)

As written on the pack

30% Date Paste, 18% Roasted Peanut Paste, 18% Roasted Peanut Pieces, Whey Protein Isolate Powder (Milk), Rice Starch, Grape Juice Concentrate, Pink Himalayan Salt, Tapioca Starch.

What makes it ultra-processed

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.

3 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 69 protein Energy Bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 7th. 94% of the protein Energy Bars here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 69 protein Energy Bars, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4056489822745, last edited 2 June 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.