Is Walmart Plant base protein ultra-processed?

32 oz Protein powders Sold in the United States

Pack of Walmart Plant base protein

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:

  • 11 ingredients
  • 3 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

protein blend (pea protein isolate, quinoa), natura flavor, maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), sea salt (processing marker), gum blend (cellulose gum (ultra-processing marker), xanthan gum (ultra-processing marker), carrageenan (ultra-processing marker)), suppiement facts

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E415 Xanthan gum , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

protein blend (pea protein isolate, quinoa) natura flavor, maltodextrin, sea salt, gum blend (cellulose gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan), suppiement facts

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.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.

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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 149 protein powders

From least to most processed, this one ranks 53rd. 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 0681131386920, last edited 3 September 2024), 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.