Is it ultra-processed?
Menu

Is Pure protein Protein bar ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Pure protein Protein bar

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
  • 11 additives

Less processed protein 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, whey protein, whey protein isolate), chocolate coating (maltitol, fractionated palm kernel oil, whey protein, cocoa, calcium carbonate, natural flavors, soy lecithin, sucralose), caramel layer (maltitol syrup, nonfat dry milk, heavy cream (cream, milk, cellulose gel, milk, cellulose gum), water, milk protein concentrate, palm kernel oil, butter, disodium phosphate, caramel, natural flavor, soy lecithin, carrageenan), hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin, water, peanuts, natural flavors, soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), sucralose, almond butter

Additives: E170 Calcium carbonates , E170i Calcium carbonate , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E339ii Disodium phosphate , E407 Carrageenan , E422 Glycerol , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol , E965ii Maltitol syrup

As written on the pack

Protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate), chocolate flavored coating (maltitol, fractionated palm kernel oil, whey protein concentrate, cocoa [processed with alkali], calcium carbonate, natural flavors, soy lecithin, sucralose), caramel layer (maltitol syrup, nonfat dry milk, heavy cream [cream, milk, cellulose gel, milk solids, cellulose gum], water, milk protein concentrate, palm kernel oil, butter, disodium phosphate, caramel, natural flavor, soy lecithin, carrageenan), hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin, water, peanuts, natural flavors, soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), sucralose, almond butter.

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.

  • E170 Calcium carbonates Calcium carbonate is chalk.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Show 2 more
  • 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.

  • 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.
5 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.

  • Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 381st. 93% of the protein 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 426 protein bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0749826306742, last edited 6 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.