Is Barebells Banana protein shake ultra-processed?

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Pack of Barebells Banana protein shake

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 17 ingredients
  • 7 additives

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

mjölk, mjölkprotein (ultra-processing marker), vatten, stabiliseringsmedel (cellulosa (ultra-processing marker), cellulosagummi (ultra-processing marker), karragenan (ultra-processing marker)), kakao, aromer (ultra-processing marker), surhetsreglerande medel (natriumfosfat), laktas, sötningsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (acesulfam K (ultra-processing marker), sukralos (ultra-processing marker)), färgämne (ultra-processing marker) (karoten (ultra-processing marker))

Additives: E160a Carotene , E339 Sodium phosphates , E407 Carrageenan , E460 Cellulose , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

As written on the pack

mjölk, mjölkproteinkoncentrat, vatten, stabiliseringsmedel (cellulosa, cellulosagummi, karragenan), kakao, aromer, surhetsreglerande medel (natriumfosfat), laktas, sötningsmedel (acesulfam K, sukralos), färgämne (karoten)

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E460 Cellulose A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
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  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.

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.

How the NOVA groups work

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 7340001800692, last edited 2 April 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.