Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Pure Protein Galactic Brownie ultra-processed?

21.16 g Protein Energy Bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Pure Protein Galactic Brownie

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:

  • 42 ingredients
  • 17 additives

Less processed protein Energy Bars

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

Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein), Maltitol Syrup, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Glycerine, Water, Fractionated Palm Oil, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Maltitol, Cocoa, Natural Flavor (Includes Annatto, Turmeric), Cocoa, Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Chocolate, Soy Lecithin, Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Peanut Flour, Almond Butter, Sucralose, Carrageenan, Butterfat, Disodium Phosphate, Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Dextrose, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Maltodextrin, Red 3, Yellow 6, Blue 1 (almonds), ingredients

Additives: E102 Tartrazine , E110 Sunset yellow FCF , E127 Erythrosine , E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E170 Calcium carbonates , E170i Calcium carbonate , E171 Titanium dioxide , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E339ii Disodium phosphate , E407 Carrageenan , E422 Glycerol , E428 Gelatine , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol , E965ii Maltitol syrup

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E428 Gelatine.

As written on the pack

Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Maltitol Syrup, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Glycerine, Water, Fractionated Palm Oil, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Maltitol, Cocoa, Natural Flavor (Includes Annatto and Turmeric), Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Unsweetened Chocolate, Soy Lecithin, Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Almond Butter, Sucralose, Carrageenan, Butterfat, Disodium Phosphate, Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Dextrose, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Maltodextrin, Red 3, Yellow 6, Blue 1. Contains milk, soy, peanut and tree nut (almonds) ingredients.

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.

Show 8 more
  • 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.
  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E428 Gelatine Gelatine is a gelling agent made from collagen in animal skin and bones.
  • E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • 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.

  • Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • 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.
  • Cocoa An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
4 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.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 69 protein Energy Bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 68th. 94% of the protein Energy Bars 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 69 protein Energy Bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0749826000398, last edited 30 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.