Is Bolthouse Farms Protein Plus ultra-processed?

210.0g Protein shakes Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
Milk proteins
E407 Carrageenan
E414 Acacia gum
E418 Gellan gum

55 ingredients
5 additives

Less processed protein shakes

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

Low-fat milk, filtered water, agave nectar, cane sugar (processing marker), whey protein (ultra-processing marker), soy protein isolate, cocoa powder, natural flavors (ultra-processing marker), dipotassium phosphate, acacia gum (ultra-processing marker), gellan gum (ultra-processing marker), ascorbic acid, carrageenan (ultra-processing marker), vitamin a (palmitate), vitamin b1 (thiamin mononitrate), vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b3 (niacinamide), vitamins, vitamin b5, calcium d-pantothenate, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hcl), vitamin b7 (biotin), vitamins, vitamin b9, folic acid, vitamin b12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamins, vitamin d3, cholecalciferol, vitamin e (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate), calcium (tricalcium phosphate), phosphorus (tricalcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate), magnesium (magnesium phosphate), chromium (chromium chloride), iodine (potassium iodide (processing marker)), iron (ferric orthophosphate), zinc (zinc oxide), copper (copper gluconate)

Additives: E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E407 Carrageenan , E414 Acacia gum , E418 Gellan gum

As written on the pack

Low-fat milk, filtered water, agave nectar, cane sugar, whey protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, cocoa powder, natural flavors, dipotassium phosphate, acacia gum, gellan gum, ascorbic acid, carrageenan, vitamin a (palmitate), vitamin b1 (thiamin mononitrate), vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b3 (niacinamide), vitamin b5 (calcium d-pantothenate), vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hcl), vitamin b7 (biotin), vitamin b9 (folic acid), vitamin b12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin d3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin e (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate), calcium (tricalcium phosphate), phosphorus (tricalcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate), magnesium (magnesium phosphate), chromium (chromium chloride), iodine (potassium iodide), iron (ferric orthophosphate), zinc (zinc oxide), copper (copper gluconate).

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.

E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
E418 Gellan gum Stabilisers are substances which make it possible to maintain the physico-chemical state of a foodstuff; stabilisers include substances which enable the maintenance of a homogenous dispersion of two or more immiscible substances in a foodstuff, substances which stabilise, retain or intensify an existing colour of a foodstuff and substances which increase the binding capacity of the food, including the formation of cross-links between proteins enabling the binding of food pieces into re-constituted food.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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.

Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 157 protein shakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 62nd. 97% of the protein shakes 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 157 protein shakes, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0071464306502, last edited 21 September 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.