How Is Protein Powder Made?
📌 Overview and Key Takeaways
How is protein powder made?
Discover the processes and ingredients used to manufacture protein powders.
How Protein Powder is Made
Most protein powders contain 4 key ingredients:
- Protein concentrates and/or isolates
- Sugar substitutes
- Flavors
- Additives
In most cases, manufacturers simply source, blend, and package these components.
Protein Concentrates and Isolates
Protein concentrates and isolates are high protein foods (milk, peas, etc.) that were mechanically and/or chemically stripped of most of their non-protein components (fats, carbs, fiber, etc.).
There are several different methods used to concentrate/isolate dietary protein, and the method used depends on the type of protein.
One of the most common ways to make whey protein concentrate and isolate, for example, is a mechanical process called membrane filtration.
It involves passing liquid whey through a membrane porous to fats and carbohydrates, but not protein.
This process is repeated several times until the desired protein concentration is achieved.
Making plant protein concentrates and isolates, on the other hand, typically requires some combination of mechanical and chemical processing.
Here is an illustration of what that might look like for pea protein isolate:
Step 1: Milling
- Whole peas are cleaned, dehulled, and ground into a fine flour.
- Note that this flour is not just protein – it is fats, carbs, and fiber too.
Step 2: Slurry & Solubilization
- The pea flour is dumped into giant vats of water to make a slurry.
- Chemicals are added to force only the protein to dissolve.
Step 3: Isoelectric Precipitation
- The pH of the slurry is lowered using acid, causing the proteins to lose their charge and clump.
Step 4: Neutralization & Washing
- The protein clumps are neutralized (back toward pH 7) with more chemicals.
- They are rinsed, removing much of the natural color, flavor, and most of the non-protein nutrients.
Step 5: Separation & Refinement
- Industrial centrifuges and filtration systems further isolate the protein.
Step 6: Drying
- The damp protein curds are fed into spray dryers.
- This turns them into a fine powder known as pea protein isolate.
As a result of all this processing, pea isolate can contain as much as 90% protein, which is far more protein by weight than peas!
Daily Protein Intake Calculator
Sugar Substitutes
Most protein powders contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose, sugar alcohols like erythritol, or natural sugar substitutes like stevia.
Sweeteners like these are so popular because they are intensely sweet, but virtually sugar and calorie-free.
Given that protein powder is typically marketed to people trying to eat healthy, sweetness with no calories or sugar is ideal.
Flavors
Most protein powders contain artificial and/or ‘natural’ flavors, which, like sugar substitutes, contribute little to no nutritional value (calories, fats, sugars, etc.) to the formulation.
I put the word natural in quotes because natural flavor manufactures can add synthetic solvents, preservatives, and carriers to a flavor that qualifies as “natural” under (eCFR, 2025).
You would never know, however, because flavor manufacturers are not required to disclose these ingredients.
Additives
Most protein powders contain a cocktail of food additives, including anti-caking or flow agents, carriers, emulsifiers, preservatives, stabilizers, and thickeners.
Ingredients like these are used to improve characteristics like solubility and shelf life.
They are also used to mask the chalkiness of protein concentrate and isolates.
⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein shakes and powders:
- acacia fiber
- acacia gum
- acesulfame potassium
- artificial flavors
- ascorbic acid
- aspartame
- calcium carbonate
- carrageenan
- cellulose gum
- dextrin
- dicalcium phosphate
- dipotassium phosphate
- erythritol
- gellan gum
- guar gum
- gum arabic
- inulin
- locust bean gum
- maltitol
- maltodextrin
- mono- and diglycerides
- ‘natural’ flavors
- rice bran extract
- rice dextrin
- rice hulls
- rosemary extract
- silica
- silicon dioxide
- sodium alginate
- soluble corn fiber
- sorbitol
- soy lecithin
- sucralose
- sunflower lecithin
- tocopherols
- tricalcium phosphate
- xanthan gum
- xylitol
- zinc oxide
As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it is a food additive.
Product Quiz
How is Drink Wholesome made?
As you might have gathered, Drink Wholesome is made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds, not ultra-processed protein concentrates or isolates.
It is also additive and flavor-free and sweetened with monk fruit – of all the sugar substitutes, monk fruit is by far the most natural.
Our Ingredients
egg whites
coconut
vanilla
monk fruit
NOT Our Ingredients
-
acacia gum
-
acesulfame potassium
-
artificial flavors
-
carrageenan
-
erythritol
-
guar gum
-
inulin
-
maltodextrin
-
'natural' flavors
-
silica
-
soy lecithin
-
sucralose
-
xanthan gum
-
xylitol
This is a fundamentally different approach to making protein powder.
It is simplified, both in terms of the amount of processing and the number of ingredients.
This is why our customers experience fewer digestive issues with our Protein Powder than with any other type of protein shake or powder.
Order Samples to see for yourself.
Sources
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives. 2025.
Editorial Guidelines
This article was written by a Certified Nutrition Coach and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
Who Is Drink Wholesome for?
Drink Wholesome makes protein powder for sensitive stomachs, GERD, IBS, and other gut issues. It’s suitable for most food sensitivities, including lactose intolerance, and won’t cause side effects like bloating, constipation, and reflux.
Why Is Drink Wholesome Good for Sensitive Stomachs?
Drink Wholesome is the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs because it’s additive, dairy, and gluten-free. It’s also made from minimally-processed protein sources like egg whites and almonds. Other protein powders are made from ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates, which look nothing like real food.
What’s the Difference Between Protein Powder and Meal Replacement Powder?
Drink Wholesome makes gut-friendly Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders. Protein powder is high in protein and low in everything else, whereas meal replacement powder contains fats, carbs, fiber, and protein because it’s intended to replace the nutritional value of a balanced meal.
What’s the Difference Between Almond, Collagen, and Egg White Protein?
We make three types of stomach-friendly Protein Powder: Collagen Protein Powder, Egg White Protein Powder, and Vegan Almond Protein Powder. As long as you get protein from a variety of sources, any type of protein can help you meet your total daily protein needs. In other words, for someone with a balanced diet, there is no advantage to consuming one type of protein over another. Order Samples to see which type you like the most.
Ask Nutrition Coach
If you’re wondering which Drink Wholesome product is best for you, ask our Certified Nutrition Coach. For personalized medical advice, consult your healthcare provider.
High Protein Balls
PREP TIME
5 min
COOK TIME
5 min
SERVES
2
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Protein Powder
- ½ cup nut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
Instructions
Combine the Protein Powder, nut butter, syrup, extract, and oats in a food processor or blender. Pulse until well combined. Add the chocolate and coconut, and pulse a few more times. Roll the dough into 10 balls. Enjoy!
Author(s)
Protein Powder Samples
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