Is Strawberries & Cream Premier Protein Shake ultra-processed?

Protein shakes Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
Milk proteins
Vegetable fiber
E407 Carrageenan
E452 Polyphosphates
E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose
and 3 more

46 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 concentrate (ultra-processing marker), calcium caseinate, whey protein (ultra-processing marker), high oleic sunflower oil (processing marker), natural and artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), inulin (ultra-processing marker), cellulose gel, cellulose gum (ultra-processing marker), salt (processing marker), datem (ultra-processing marker), sucralose (ultra-processing marker), acesulfame potassium (ultra-processing marker), carrageenan (ultra-processing marker), tripotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium polyphosphate (ultra-processing marker), vitamin and mineral blend, sodium ascorbate (vitamin c), niacinamide, zinc amino acid chelate, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), calcium d-pantothenate, copper amino acid chelate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin b1), cholecalciferol (vitamin d3), folic acid, biotin, vitamin a palmitate, potassium iodide (processing marker), chromium chloride, phytonadione (vitamin k), sodium molybdate, sodium selenite, cyanocobalamin, ferric orthophosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium phosphate

Additives: E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E340iii Tripotassium phosphate , E407 Carrageenan , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , potassium iodide

As written on the pack

water, milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, high oleic sunflower oil, natural and artificial flavors, inulin, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, salt, datem, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, carrageenan, tripotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium polyphosphate, vitamin and mineral blend (sodium ascorbate [vitamin c], niacinamide, zinc amino acid chelate, dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate [vitamin e], calcium d-pantothenate, copper amino acid chelate, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin b6], riboflavin [vitamin b2], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin b1], cholecalciferol [vitamin d3], folic acid, biotin, vitamin a palmitate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, phytonadione [vitamin k], sodium molybdate, sodium selenite, cyanocobalamin [vitamin b12], ferric orthophosphate, manganese sulfate, magnesium phosphate.

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.
E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids 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.

Show 1 more

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.
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 158 protein shakes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 155th. 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 158 protein shakes, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0643843714651, last edited 2 July 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.