Is Optimum nutrition Whey ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 17 ingredients
- 7 additives
Less processed protein powders
-
Soy Protein Mince
H&B
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
-
Almond Protein Powder
Bob's Red Mill
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
-
Hemp Protein Powder
Manitoba Harvest
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
- Simple Plant Protein Powder Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Orgain 6 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
Protein Blend, Whey Protein Isolates (ultra-processing marker) (Contains Emulsifier (ultra-processing marker) (_Soy& Lecithin (ultra-processing marker))), Whey Protein (ultra-processing marker), Whey Peptides, Flavouring (ultra-processing marker), Salt (processing marker), Sweeteners (ultra-processing marker) (Acesulfame Potassium (ultra-processing marker), Sucralose (ultra-processing marker)), Enzyme Complex (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Beta-D-Galactosidase, Lipase (ultra-processing marker))
Additives: E1100 Alpha-Amylase , E1101 Protease , E1104 Lipase , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose
As written on the pack
Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolates (Milk) [Contains Emulsifier: Soy& Lecithin], Whey Protein Concentrate (Milk), Whey Peptides (Milk_), Flavouring, Salt, Sweeteners (Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose), Enzyme Complex (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Beta-D-Galactosidase, Lipase)
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.
- E1104 Lipase A food additive authorised for industrial food production.
- 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.
- 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.
- Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
- Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
Show 1 more
- Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.
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.
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.
Among 149 protein powders
From least to most processed, this one ranks 137th. 95% of the protein powders here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060469988610, last edited 13 April 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.