Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ensure PLUS nutrition shake ultra-processed?

Dietary supplements Sold in the United States

Pack of Ensure PLUS nutrition 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:

  • 44 ingredients
  • 5 additives

Less processed dietary supplements

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, corn maltodextrin, sugar, milk protein concentrate, blend of vegetable oils (canola, corn), soy protein isolate, less than 0.5% of vitamins, minerals, nonfat milk, natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, salt, carrageenan, potassium citrate, magnesium phosphate, sodium ascorbate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, ascorbic acid, sodium citrate, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, copper sulfate, riboflavin, vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium molybdate, phylloquinone, vitamins, vitamin D3, biotin, vitamin B12

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E331 Sodium citrates , E407 Carrageenan , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

water, corn maltodextrin, sugar, milk protein concentrate, blend of vegetable oils (canola, corn), soy protein isolate, less than 0.5% of vitamins and minerals, nonfat milk, natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, salt, carrageenan, potassium citrate, magnesium phosphate, sodium ascorbate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, ascorbic acid, sodium citrate, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, copper sulfate, riboflavin, vitamin A palmitate, folic acid, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium molybdate, phylloquinone, vitamin D3, biotin, vitamin B12

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 1,145 dietary supplements

From least to most processed, this one ranks 737th. 90% of the dietary supplements 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 1,145 dietary supplements, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0070074407074, last edited 17 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.