Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Now Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored ultra-processed?

Protein powders Sold in the United States and Spain

Pack of Now Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored

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:

  • 20 ingredients
  • 2 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, sunflower lecithin 1%, now foods, 395 s, glen ellyn rd, bloomingdale, il 60108, USA nowsportsproducts.com Packaged and quality tested in the USA, Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, sesame ingredients, Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens, This product is

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin

As written on the pack

WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN (< 1%). CONTAINS MILK. NOW FOODS, 395 S. GLEN ELLYN RD. BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108, USA nowsportsproducts.com Packaged and quality tested in the USA. Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. This product is

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.

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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 149 protein powders

From least to most processed, this one ranks 36th. 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 149 protein powders, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0733739021724, last edited 27 March 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.