Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Fairlife Plan Nutrition vanilla lactose-free nutritious shake ultra-processed?

Protein shakes Sold in Canada and Italy

Pack of Fairlife Plan Nutrition vanilla lactose-free nutritious 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:

  • 16 ingredients
  • 7 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

Ultrafiltered partly skimmed lactose free milk (vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3), Natural flavour, Sodium hexametaphosphate, Cellulose Cellulose gum, Salt, Maltodextrin, Carrageenan, Acesulfame-potassium, Concentrated monk fruit juice, Stevia leaf extract, Sucralose, Contains per 1 bottle (acesulfame-potassium), sucralose

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E960 Steviol glycosides

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose.

As written on the pack

Ultrafiltered partly skimmed lactose free milk (partly skimmed vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3), Natural flavour, Sodium hexametaphosphate, Cellulose Cellulose gum, Salt, Maltodextrin, Carrageenan, Acesulfame-potassium, Concentrated monk fruit juice, Stevia leaf extract, Sucralose. Contains per 1 bottle (340 mL): 75 mg acesulfame-potassium, 4.4 mg sucralose. Contains: Milk.

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.
  • E452 Polyphosphates Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • 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.
  • E960 Steviol glycosides Steviol glycosides are sweet compounds extracted and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant.
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  • 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.
1 ingredient 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 158 protein shakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 126th. 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 0811620023023, last edited 20 February 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.