Is Equate Plant Based Protein ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- Flavouring
- Maltodextrin
- Modified starch
- E407 Carrageenan
- E414 Acacia gum
- E415 Xanthan gum
- and 5 more
- 19 ingredients
- 8 additives
Less processed protein powders
-
Almond Protein Powder
Bob's Red Mill
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
-
Hemp Protein Powder
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1 ingredient · no additives
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- Simple Plant Protein Powder Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Orgain 6 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
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Unflavored plant based protein
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NOVA group
1
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
pea protein, erythritol (ultra-processing marker), natural flavors (ultra-processing marker), sunflower oil (processing marker), sunflower creamer (sunflower oil (processing marker), maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), modified food starch (ultra-processing marker), mono- and DIGLYCERIDES (ultra-processing marker), tricalcium phosphate), gum arabic (ultra-processing marker), cellulose gum (ultra-processing marker), xanthan gum (ultra-processing marker), carrageenan (ultra-processing marker), l-leucine (ultra-processing marker), l-isoleucine, l-valine, sea salt (processing marker), sucralose (ultra-processing marker)
Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E414 Acacia gum , E415 Xanthan gum , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E641 Leucine , E955 Sucralose , E968 Erythritol
As written on the pack
PEA PROTEIN, ERYTHRITOL, NATURAL FLAVORS, SUNFLOWER OIL, SUNFLOWER CREAMER (SUNFLOWER OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE), GUM ARABIC, CELLULOSE GUM, XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, L-LEUCINE, L-ISOLEUCINE, L-VALINE, SEA SALT, SUCRALOSE.
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.
- E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
- E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
- E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
- E641 Leucine A food additive authorised for industrial food production.
Show 4 more
- E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
- E968 Erythritol Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
- Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
- Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.
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.
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.
- Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
- Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
- Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
Among 149 protein powders
From least to most processed, this one ranks 149th. 95% of the protein powders here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0194346288298, last edited 3 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.