Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Elevation Functional Protein Bar Golden Vanilla Cream ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in the United States and Germany

Pack of Elevation Functional Protein Bar Golden Vanilla Cream

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:

  • 46 ingredients
  • 7 additives

Less processed protein 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

soy protein crisp, isolated soy protein, tapioca starch, maltitol, peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla cookie crumb, buckwheat flour, rice flour, maltitol, palm oil, oat flour, natural flavor, salt, sodium bicarbonate, sunflower lecithin, stevia glycoside, glycerin, whey protein, milk protein, cow's milk, white confectionery, sugar, palm kernel oil, nonfat dry milk, whole milk powder, whey powder, palm oil, soy lecithin, vanilla, peanuts, chocolate confectionery, sugar, palm kernel oil, cocoa powder, whey powder, nonfat dry milk, soy lecithin, vanilla, palm oil, guar gum, salt, omega 3 oil, MCT oil, medium chain triglyceride, natural flavor

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E412 Guar gum , E422 Glycerol , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate , E965 Maltitol

As written on the pack

soy protein crisp, isolated soy protein, tapioca starch, maltitol, peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla cookie crumb, buckwheat flour, rice flour, maltitol, palm oil, oat flour, natural flavor, salt, sodium bicarbonate, sunflower lecithin, stevia glycoside, glycerin, whey protein concentrate, milk protein, pasteurized cow's milk, white confectionery, sugar, palm kernel oil, nonfat dry milk, whole milk powder, whey powder, palm oil, soy lecithin, vanilla, peanuts, chocolate confectionery, sugar, palm kernel oil, cocoa powder, whey powder, nonfat dry milk, soy lecithin, vanilla, palm oil, guar gum, salt, omega 3 oil, MCT oil, medium chain triglyceride, natural flavor

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.

  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • 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.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
5 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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 285th. 93% of the protein 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 426 protein bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4061462138294, last edited 10 August 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.