Is Whey Protein Vegan?
The short answer is: No — whey protein is produced by heating milk and separating the liquid whey from the curds. This foggy liquid is then sent to a manufacturer, where it’s filtered and dried completely. Then, it’s processed into a powder, which protein companies can then use in their products. This means whey protein can be considered vegetarian, but because it’s animal-derived, cannot be considered a vegan ingredient.
Popular vegan protein powders include soy, pea, brown rice, and hemp protein. However, vegans do not need to consume these powders unless they are protein deficient, an extremely rare condition in vegans and non-vegans alike. Protein deficiency is almost exclusively diagnosed in those who are not consuming enough calories in general.
Another reason to consume a protein supplement is if you are an athlete, bodybuilder, or have a very active lifestyle. Protein allows muscles to recover quickly after a workout, but you can get the same benefits from consuming a high-protein meal prepared with legumes, grains, and/or nuts and seeds. Vegan meat substitutes and plant milks are also good sources of protein.
If you believe you may be protein deficient, we recommend contacting your healthcare provider so you can get tested. And if you require additional protein for muscle recovery due to your active lifestyle, check out the best vegan protein bars here, or the top plant-based protein powders below!