Hydrolyzed Whey Protein

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 90 indexed US food products.

Safety score 60.0%

3/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine

How common is vs other flagged additives?

Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Hydrolyzed Whey Protein highlighted.

Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Hydrolyzed Whey Protein90
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Safety Score
3/5

Safety Assessment

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein has a moderate safety profile (3/5). While approved for use, some studies or consumer advocacy groups have raised questions about certain aspects of this ingredient. Consumers who prefer caution may wish to limit intake.

What the Data Says About

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein currently appears in 90 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 3/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification. These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein serves one or more technical functions in food manufacturing — stabilization, flavor, preservation, or structural role — which explains its presence across multiple product categories in our database. Inspection and outbreak records frequently trace back to control failures around functional additives, whether through batch contamination, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling mismatches that trigger recall classifications by the FDA.

No specific concern flags are attached to Hydrolyzed Whey Protein in our current data snapshot beyond the regulatory and CSPI classifications above. That does not rule out individual sensitivity reactions, and anyone managing allergies, elimination diets, or chronic conditions should verify with a qualified healthcare professional before relying on population-level ratings.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Regulatory and safety classifications for Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA Not listed 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 90 products OpenFoodFacts

FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.

Products Containing

Showing 50 of 90 products

100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
100% whey protein fruity cereal
Optimum nutrition
45/100
100% Whey Protein Plus
Sixstar
80/100
100% Whey Protein Plus
Six Star
80/100
100% Whey Protein Plus
Sixstar
85/100
Banana Nut Bars, Banana Nut
Overnight oats bar
100/100
BSN Vanilla True-mass Gainer (5.75 lbs)
Unknown
70/100
Built Puff Brownie Batter
Built
100/100
Captain Marvel Pineapple Mango Whey Isolate
MyProtein
70/100
caramel chocolate protein bar
N!CK'S
100/100
Chicken Broth
Schnucks
95/100
Chicken Broth
Springfield
95/100
Chicken Broth
Springfield
95/100
Chicken Broth
Haggen Inc.
95/100
Chocolate chip caramel
Unknown
85/100
Chocolate Peanut Butter Whey Protein Powder
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Chocolate Protien Powder GNC
Unknown
60/100
CLEAR WHEY ISOLATE
MYPROTEIN
70/100
Clear Whey Isolate Orange Cream
MyProtein
65/100
Cookies n' cream gluten free oatmeal bar, cookies n' cream
Unknown
100/100
Creamy Chocolate Milkshake Whey
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Detour, Lean Muscle Whey Protein Bar, Cookie Dough Caramel Crisp
Forward Foods Llc
100/100
Detour, Whey Protein Bar, Caramel Peanut
Forward Foods Llc
85/100
Extreme Milk Chocolate Protein Powder Drink
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Fiber One Protein Chocolate Pretzel Nut Chewy Bar
Fiber One
100/100
Fiber One Protein Sweet & Salty Roasted Nut Chewy Bar
Unknown
100/100
Gatorade Mixed Berry Protein Recovery Beverage 16.9 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Gatorade
45/100
Gatorade Recover Protein Recovery Beverage Kiwi Strawberry 16.9 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Gatorade
20/100
Gatorade Tropical Orange Protein Recovery Beverage 16.9 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Gatorade
20/100
GNC Pro Weight Gainer
Gnc
85/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey
Optimum nutrition
100/100
GOLD STANDARD 100% WHEY
OPTIMUM NUTRITION
70/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolate
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein
Optimum Nutrition
65/100
GOLD STANDARD 100% WHEY PROTEIN
OPTIMUM NUTRITION
70/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Double Rich Chocolate
Optimum Nutrition
85/100
Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein, Vanilla Ice Cream
Optimum nutrition
70/100
Gold Standard Pro Gainer
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Gold Standard Whey Chocolate Peanut Butter
Optimum Nutrition
70/100
Graham Cracker Flavor Finish First Syntha-6 Edge Protein Powder Drink Mix, Graham Cracker
BSN
80/100
Mass Tech
MuscleTech
85/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hydrolyzed Whey Protein safe to eat?

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein has a safety score of 3/5. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.

What products contain Hydrolyzed Whey Protein?

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein is found in 90 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Hydrolyzed Whey Protein do in food?

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein serves various technical functions in food manufacturing and processing.

Where does this ingredient safety data come from?

Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.