Is Ensure Considered an Ultra-Processed Food? A Detailed Nutritional Analysis

October 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to one recent study, over half the calories in some Western diets come from ultra-processed foods. Given this prevalence, many are asking: is Ensure considered an ultra-processed food? Understanding its classification is key to evaluating its place in a balanced diet.

Quick Summary

Ensure is classified as an ultra-processed food under the NOVA system due to its industrial formulation and ingredient list, though its therapeutic use for specific medical needs provides a crucial nuance.

Key Points

YES, Ensure is an ultra-processed food: According to the NOVA classification, its formulation with industrially derived ingredients and additives places it in the highest processing category.
Check the ingredients: Ensure's ingredient list includes corn maltodextrin, protein isolates, added sweeteners, and various emulsifiers, which are key markers of ultra-processing.
Context matters for therapeutic use: Despite its UPF status, Ensure is a vital tool used under medical supervision to provide essential nutrition to patients dealing with illness, malnutrition, or difficulty eating.
UPF concerns are linked to overall diet: High consumption of ultra-processed foods generally is associated with negative health outcomes like obesity and chronic disease, not necessarily one specific product in isolation.
Prioritize whole foods for general health: For most healthy people, the best dietary strategy is to limit UPF intake and focus on whole, minimally processed foods, as recommended by major health bodies.

The NOVA Classification System: A Framework for Understanding Ultra-Processing

To answer the question, "is Ensure considered an ultra-processed food?", it is essential to first understand the framework used for classification. The most widely cited system is the NOVA classification, which categorizes all foods based on the extent and purpose of their industrial processing. It divides foods into four distinct groups:

Group 1: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods. These are whole foods with minimal changes, such as freezing, drying, or pasteurization, that do not add substances like sugar, salt, or oils. Examples include fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and milk.
Group 2: Processed culinary ingredients. These are ingredients derived from Group 1 foods for use in preparing meals. Examples include vegetable oils, butter, sugar, and salt.
Group 3: Processed foods. Created by adding Group 2 ingredients to Group 1 foods, these are designed to increase durability and palatability. Examples include canned vegetables, cheeses, and simple breads.
Group 4: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs). These are industrial formulations made mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods and additives. UPFs often contain ingredients not commonly used in home cooking and involve multiple industrial techniques to enhance shelf life, palatability, and convenience.

Identifying Ensure's Ingredients Under the NOVA Lens

When evaluating Ensure through the NOVA lens, the product's extensive ingredient list and industrial processing place it firmly within Group 4. A look at the ingredients of a typical Ensure Original shake reveals multiple indicators of ultra-processing:

Extracted and modified substances: Ensure contains corn maltodextrin and corn syrup, which are highly refined carbohydrates extracted from corn. Protein is sourced from milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate, which are industrially extracted and purified.
Additives and emulsifiers: The list includes substances used to create and maintain the product's uniform texture and long shelf life. For example, cellulose gel, soy lecithin, and carrageenan are common emulsifiers and stabilizers.
Added flavors and sweeteners: Artificial flavors and non-nutritive sweeteners like sucralose are added to enhance taste and palatability, a key characteristic of UPFs.
Fortification: While containing numerous vitamins and minerals, these are added back into the product rather than existing naturally in their whole-food form. This fortification process is common in UPFs but does not equate to the nutritional complexity of whole foods.

A Balanced View: Ensure's Role in a Medical Context

While Ensure is an ultra-processed food, this classification alone doesn't tell the whole story. The context in which it's used is critical. Unlike a sugary snack or candy, Ensure was created for a specific medical and nutritional purpose.

Common medical uses for nutritional shakes like Ensure include:

Patients with involuntary weight loss or malnutrition due to illness.
Individuals with chewing or swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).
Post-surgery recovery, especially dental or oral surgeries.
Older adults needing to supplement their diet to prevent muscle wasting or dehydration.

In these situations, the benefits of providing a concentrated source of calories, protein, and micronutrients in an easy-to-consume form may outweigh the concerns associated with its ultra-processed nature. Healthcare professionals often recommend these shakes as a therapeutic tool.

Ultra-Processed vs. Minimally Processed: A Comparison

To illustrate the difference in processing, consider how Ensure compares to a similar homemade beverage using minimally processed ingredients.


Feature	Ensure Original	Homemade Whole-Food Smoothie
Core Ingredients	Water, Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oils	Whole milk or yogurt, Fresh fruit (e.g., banana, berries), Protein powder (minimally processed), Whole grains (oats)
Protein Source	Industrially processed soy and milk protein isolates	Primarily from whole milk or yogurt, supplemented by protein powder
Sweeteners	Sugar, Corn Maltodextrin, Sucralose	Natural sugars from fruit, optionally a minimal amount of honey or maple syrup
Additives	Cellulose gel, soy lecithin, carrageenan, artificial flavors	None or minimal, with texture derived from whole foods
Nutrient Source	Fortified with vitamins and minerals	Vitamins and minerals derived naturally from whole foods
Fiber Content	Often low (1 gram)	Higher, depending on ingredients like fruit and oats
Processing Level	Ultra-processed (NOVA Group 4)	Minimally processed (NOVA Group 1 & 2)

Navigating Ultra-Processed Foods in a Healthy Diet

For the general population without specific medical needs, dietary advice from public health bodies typically recommends limiting ultra-processed food intake. This is due to the established links between high consumption of UPFs and increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Key strategies for making healthier choices include:

Read ingredient lists carefully: Look for short, recognizable ingredient lists. Ingredients like emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial flavors, and certain preservatives are markers of higher processing.
Prioritize whole foods: Base your diet on unprocessed and minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. This ensures a higher intake of natural nutrients and fiber.
Don't demonize all processed food: It's important to distinguish between minimally processed foods (like plain yogurt or frozen vegetables) and ultra-processed foods. Not all processed foods are unhealthy, and some can be nutritious and convenient.

Conclusion: Yes, Ensure Is Considered an Ultra-Processed Food

In conclusion, based on the widely accepted NOVA classification system, Ensure is considered an ultra-processed food due to its complex industrial formulation and the inclusion of numerous extracted substances and additives. A product's classification as ultra-processed is a function of how it's made, not necessarily a definitive judgment on its nutritional merit in all circumstances. While concerns about the general health impacts of high UPF consumption are valid for the general population, Ensure and similar products have a legitimate, doctor-recommended place in a therapeutic context for individuals with specific nutritional needs. For the average, healthy individual, prioritizing minimally processed, whole foods is the foundation of a healthy diet, with ultra-processed products like Ensure reserved for targeted use when advised by a health professional. For more information on the NOVA classification, see this resource from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. While high UPF consumption is linked to health issues, Ensure is often used therapeutically for individuals with specific medical needs. For a healthy person, whole foods are preferable, but for a patient struggling with malnutrition, the benefits of Ensure can outweigh the concerns associated with its processing.

Look at the ingredient list. Ultra-processed foods typically have a long list of ingredients that you would not find in a home kitchen, such as protein isolates, hydrogenated oils, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and artificial sweeteners or flavors.

NOVA is a food classification system developed by Brazilian researchers that categorizes foods into four groups based on the extent and purpose of their industrial processing. It ranges from Group 1 (unprocessed) to Group 4 (ultra-processed).

Most commercially available nutritional and protein shakes, like Ensure and Boost, are considered ultra-processed because of their industrial formulation and additive-heavy ingredient lists. However, some plant-based or cleaner-ingredient shakes exist, but careful label reading is required.

If you are a generally healthy person, it's best to prioritize whole foods. However, if you are using Ensure to supplement your nutrition for a specific reason (e.g., occasional meal replacement for convenience or a boost after exercise), it can be used in moderation as part of an otherwise balanced diet.

Yes, a homemade smoothie is a good alternative. You can blend whole milk or yogurt, fruits, vegetables, a high-quality protein powder, and a natural sweetener like honey to create a beverage that is less processed and contains fiber.

High consumption of UPFs has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. The risks are thought to be related to the high levels of sugar, fat, and salt, low fiber content, and potentially the industrial processes and additives themselves.