Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Muscle Milk Protein Shake ultra-processed?

14oz Protein shakes Sold in the United States

Pack of Muscle Milk Protein 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:

  • 40 ingredients
  • 11 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 isolate, calcium caseinate, sodium caseinate, less than 1% of (soluble vegetable fiber), natural and artificial flavors, inulin, canola oil, cellulose gum, gel, maltodextrin, sunflower oil, dipotassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, acesulfame potassium, potassium citrate, ascorbic acid, carrageenan, ferric pyrophosphate, dicalcium phosphate, sucralose, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, d-calcium pantothenate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, vitamin a palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononirate, riboflavin, chromium chloride, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin

Additives: E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E341 Calcium phosphates , E341ii Dicalcium phosphate , E343 Magnesium phosphates , E343i Monomagnesium phosphate , E407 Carrageenan , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

As written on the pack

Water, milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate (milk), sodium caseinate (milk), less than 1% of: soluble vegetable fiber, natural and artificial flavors, inulin, canola oil, cellulose gum and gel, maltodextrin, sunflower oil, dipotassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, acesulfame potassium, potassium citrate, ascorbic acid, carrageenan, ferric pyrophosphate, dicalcium phosphate, sucralose, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, d-calcium pantothenate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, vitamin a palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononirate, riboflavin, chromium chloride, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin.

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.
  • 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.

  • 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.
  • 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 157 protein shakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 137th. 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 157 protein shakes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0876063002813, last edited 11 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.