What Are the Ingredients in Fairlife Strawberry Milk?

December 7, 2025 •

3 min read

Fairlife's patented ultra-filtration process removes half the natural sugar and concentrates protein, resulting in a distinct, nutrient-dense product. This unique process is just one factor shaping what are the ingredients in Fairlife strawberry milk, differentiating it from traditional options.

Quick Summary

Fairlife strawberry milk is made from filtered reduced fat milk, cane sugar, natural flavors, and several additives including cellulose gel, carrageenan, and sweeteners, making it a lactose-free, high-protein beverage.

Key Points

Lactose-Free: Fairlife strawberry milk is processed to be entirely free of lactose, making it suitable for those with lactose intolerance.
Higher Protein: The ultra-filtration process concentrates the milk's natural protein, resulting in 50% more protein per serving compared to regular milk.
Lower Sugar: By filtering out some natural milk sugars, Fairlife contains 50% less sugar than traditional milk.
Stabilizers for Texture: The creamy texture is achieved using stabilizers like cellulose gel, cellulose gum, and carrageenan.
Blend of Sweeteners: The sweetness comes from a mix of cane sugar and non-caloric artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Natural Color: The vibrant pink color is derived from tomato lycopene extract, a natural colorant.

Fairlife strawberry milk is known for its high protein content and lactose-free formula, a result of its proprietary ultra-filtration process. Unlike regular milk, this process separates the milk's components and then recombines them to achieve a different nutritional profile, including more protein and less sugar. The final product is a beverage that combines this modified dairy base with several other ingredients to achieve its distinctive strawberry flavor, color, and texture.

The Core Base: Ultra-Filtered Milk

At the foundation of Fairlife strawberry milk is Filtered Reduced Fat Grade A Milk. This is not simply milk with flavor added. The ultra-filtration technique uses soft filters to concentrate the natural goodness of the milk, like protein and calcium, while filtering out half of the natural sugars and all the lactose. The result is a lactose-free milk with a higher concentration of protein and calcium than traditional milk.

Flavor, Sweetness, and Color

To achieve the classic strawberry flavor, Fairlife adds a combination of ingredients, including sweeteners and a natural color source. The key flavoring components include:

Cane Sugar: Provides a foundational sweetness.
Natural Flavor: This is a broad term for flavorings derived from natural sources, which contribute to the strawberry taste.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K): A low-calorie, artificial sweetener used to enhance sweetness without adding extra calories.
Sucralose: Another no-calorie artificial sweetener derived from sugar.
Tomato Lycopene Extract (Color): A plant-based compound from tomatoes that provides the milk's reddish-pink hue.

Stabilizers and Thickeners

For a smooth, creamy texture and to prevent separation, Fairlife uses several additives, all of which are present in amounts of less than 1%:

Cellulose Gel and Cellulose Gum: Plant-derived stabilizers that give the milk a thicker and smoother texture.
Carrageenan: A gelatin-like substance derived from seaweed, used as a thickener.
Modified Food Starch: Another stabilizer sometimes listed, depending on the specific product variant.

Added Nutrients and Minerals

Beyond the natural protein and calcium, Fairlife also fortifies its strawberry milk with additional nutrients:

Vitamin A Palmitate
Vitamin D3
Sea Salt (for taste enhancement)

The Ultra-Filtration Process: How It Works

The magic behind Fairlife's unique nutritional profile is its patented ultra-filtration process. Standard milk is pushed through a series of special filters. This process separates the milk into its core components: water, minerals, lactose, protein, and fat. After separation, these components are then recombined in different ratios to create a milk with a higher concentration of protein and calcium, while filtering out the lactose and half the natural sugars. This advanced technique is what makes the product nutritionally different from standard milk. You can learn more about this on Fairlife's website: https://fairlife.com/how-we-do-it/.

Comparison Table: Fairlife vs. Regular Strawberry Milk


Feature	Fairlife Strawberry Milk	Regular Strawberry Milk
Lactose Content	Lactose-Free	Contains Lactose
Protein	50% More Protein (e.g., 23g per 14oz bottle)	Standard Milk Protein (e.g., 8g per 8oz)
Sugar	50% Less Sugar	Higher Natural Sugar Content
Processing	Ultra-Filtered	Typically Standard Pasteurization
Sweeteners	Often uses artificial sweeteners (Ace-K, Sucralose)	Sweetened with sugar, possibly corn syrup
Cost	Typically higher priced	Generally lower priced

Conclusion: A Modified Nutritional Profile

Fairlife strawberry milk offers a different kind of flavored milk experience, primarily due to its ultra-filtration process. The list of ingredients, including filtered milk, cane sugar, natural flavors, and a specific blend of stabilizers and sweeteners, is what creates its distinct profile. While it's a great option for those seeking high protein, low sugar, and a lactose-free beverage, it's important for consumers to be aware of the artificial sweeteners and additives used. Understanding the ingredients helps inform a dietary choice that aligns with personal nutritional needs and preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Fairlife strawberry milk is not dairy-free. It is a real dairy product made from cow's milk, but the ultra-filtration process removes the lactose. Individuals with a cow's milk allergy should not consume this product.

Fairlife uses artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium to achieve a sweet taste while keeping the overall sugar content lower than regular flavored milk. The natural milk sugar, lactose, is filtered out during processing.

Yes, Fairlife strawberry milk contains 'Natural Flavors' to provide its strawberry taste. The specific components of the natural flavor are not publicly disclosed by the company.

The pink color in Fairlife strawberry milk comes from a natural coloring agent called Tomato Lycopene Extract. Lycopene is a natural compound found in red fruits like tomatoes.

Yes, Fairlife strawberry milk is fortified with additional nutrients. The ingredient list includes Vitamin A Palmitate and Vitamin D3.

Fairlife strawberry milk is ultra-filtered, resulting in a product with 50% more protein and 50% less sugar than regular strawberry milk. It is also lactose-free and uses a combination of cane sugar and artificial sweeteners, unlike most regular versions.

No, it is not safe for individuals with a milk allergy. Fairlife milk is still a dairy product, and while it is lactose-free, it contains milk proteins that can cause an allergic reaction.