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Is Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake MILK CHOCOLATE ultra-processed?

330 ml Protein shakes Sold in the United States

Pack of Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake MILK CHOCOLATE

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:

  • 43 ingredients
  • 4 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

water, milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, cocoa powder, less than 0.5% of (vitamins, minerals, magnesium phosphate), sodium ascorbate, potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, potassium hydroxide, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, dl-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, niacinamide, zinc sulfate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, manganese sulfate, vitamin a palmitate, copper sulfate, folic acid, potassium iodide, phylloquinone, sodium selenate, vitamin d3, sodium molybdate, biotin, vitamin b12, NATURAL and ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, inulin, soluble corn fiber, sunflower oil, salt, cellulose gel, acesulfame potassium, cellulose gum, carrageenan, sucralose, ingredients

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

As written on the pack

WATER, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI); LESS THAN 0.5% OF: VITAMINS AND MINERALS (MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, dl-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC SULFATE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, MANGANESE SULFATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, COPPER SULFATE, FOLIC ACID, POTASSIUM IODIDE, PHYLLOQUINONE, SODIUM SELENATE, VITAMIN D3, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN B12.), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, INULIN, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, SUNFLOWER OIL, SALT, CELLULOSE GEL, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, CELLULOSE GUM, CARRAGEENAN, SUCRALOSE, CONTAINS MILK INGREDIENTS

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Vegetable fiber Isolated plant fibres, such as inulin, oat fibre or bamboo fibre, are extracted industrially and added to change texture or support "source of fibre" claims.
  • Cocoa powder An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
2 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.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 158 protein shakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 123rd. 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 158 protein shakes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0070074668987, last edited 2 October 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.