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Ingredient dictionary

Whey protein on a food label: it contains milk

Whey protein is one of the milk proteins. It contains milk, so the allergen labelling rules apply. It is vegetarian but not vegan. Open Food Facts finds it in 14,417 products, most often in biscuits and cakes.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 7 sourcesHow we check

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for a milk allergy profile

Whey protein=milk

Does whey protein contain an allergen?

Yes. Whey protein contains milk: labels in the US, the UK, Europe and the Gulf must declare it.

AllergenUSUK and EuropeGulf
MilkRequiredRequiredLactose includedRequiredLactose included

Read the milk guide

Is whey protein vegan?

No. Whey protein is not vegan: it is made from milk. It is vegetarian.

VeganNot for youNot vegan: it is made from milk.
VegetarianFits youNot meat or fish.
Milk allergyNot for youIt contains milk.

A pack can differ from the usual recipe: the app reads the label in your hand.

What other names does whey protein have on a label?

In English whey protein can also read “whey proteins” or “milk whey proteins”. On European labels it is “protéine de lactosérum” in French, “Molkenprotein” in German and “Proteína de suero de leche” in Spanish. The other 9 languages are listed below.

In Englishwhey proteinsmilk whey proteins
French
protéine de lactosérum, protéines de petit-lait
German
Molkenprotein, Molkeneiweiß
Spanish
Proteína de suero de leche
Italian
Proteine del siero del latte, WP
Dutch
Weiproteïnepreparaat, Weiproteïne
Portuguese
Proteína do soro do leite
Polish
Białko z serwatki, białko serwatkowe
Swedish
Vassleprotein
Danish
valleprotein
Finnish
heraproteiini
Hungarian
savófehérje, tejsavófehérje
Croatian
proteina sirutke, proteini sirutke

Which foods contain whey protein?

Open Food Facts lists whey protein or a more specific kind of it in the ingredients of 14,417 products, most often biscuits and cakes, ready meals and cheese. Most of them are sold in the United States, France and Germany.

  • Biscuits and cakes1,383
  • Ready meals650
  • Cheese509
  • Milk and yoghurt451
  • Dressings and sauces399
  • Savoury snacks339

Products with it, by country of sale: United States 10,357 · France 1,274 · Germany 547 · United Kingdom 438.

Counted on 13 October 2026 from the Open Food Facts product database, which volunteers fill from real packs: it shows where whey protein turns up, not how much of the market it is.

What kind of ingredient is whey protein?

Whey protein is one of the milk proteins.

Kinds of whey proteinWhey protein isolateConcentrated whey protein

Bravoora reads this ingredient for everyone you shop for: an allergy or intolerance, a vegan or vegetarian diet, a calorie or protein goal, and the labels on supplements and skincare too. Build a profile · For dietitians, doctors and trainers

Sources

An allergen is stated only when two of three checks agree: the Open Food Facts record, Bravoora’s label checker, and the ingredient’s own name or family (oat flour is oats, a cheese is milk). Every name where they disagree waits for a person to review it.

  1. Open Food Facts: Whey protein
  2. Open Food Facts: ingredients taxonomy (names, family tree, allergen and vegan flags), ODbL
  3. Open Food Facts: product database, 4,535,553 products, read 13 October 2026, ODbL
  4. European Union: Regulation 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, Annex II
  5. UK Food Standards Agency: Allergen guidance for food businesses (the 14 allergens)
  6. US FDA: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergen Labeling, Edition 5 (January 2025)
  7. Wikipedia: Whey protein

Contains information from Open Food Facts, which is made available here under the Open Database License (ODbL). Read the licence · Download this dictionary’s data · How we check

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