Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Kirkland Signature Whey Protein Creamy Chocolate ultra-processed?

5.4lb Protein powders Sold in the United States

Pack of Kirkland Signature Whey Protein Creamy 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:

  • 16 ingredients
  • 8 additives

Less processed protein powders

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

whey protein isolate, whey protein, alkalized cocoa, Acacia, whey protein hydrolysate, oat fiber, high oleic sunflower oil, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, natural flavors, rice dextrin, rosemary extract, guar gum, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, xanthan gum

Additives: E1400 Dextrin , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E392 Extracts of rosemary , E412 Guar gum , E415 Xanthan gum , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E1400 Dextrin.

As written on the pack

WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ALKALIZED COCOA, Acacia, WHEY PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE, OAT BRAN FIBER, ORGANIC HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, SEA SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, ORGANIC RICE DEXTRIN, ORGANIC ROSEMARY EXTRACT, ORGANIC GUAR GUM, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, XANTHAN GUM, 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.

  • E1400 Dextrin Dextrin is starch partly broken down by heat or acid, used as a thickener, binder and coating.
  • 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.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • 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.
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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.

  • 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.
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 150 protein powders

From least to most processed, this one ranks 146th. 95% of the protein powders 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 150 protein powders, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0196633918901, last edited 17 September 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.