Whey (whey protein)
Whey is the liquid part of milk left after cheese making; whey protein is the milk protein fraction taken from it.
- Used in
- Food ingredient
- Role
- Dairy
Other names IngrediLens checks with this entry
The app's database groups these label names, including names used on labels in other European languages, with whey. Some are true synonyms, others are close relatives with the same allergen or concern.
Contains / relevant to
- Milk & dairy: Relevant to people avoiding milk & dairy. Milk protein and milk-derived ingredients, including whey and casein.
- Vegan: Not vegan: IngrediLens flags it as an ingredient of animal origin.
What to look for on labels
- On prepacked food in the EU and UK, milk must be emphasised in the ingredient list (usually in bold), so look for whey in bold or with its source named, for example “whey (milk)”.
- In the US, a major food allergen (milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame) must be named in brackets after the ingredient or in a “Contains:” line under the list.
Questions and answers
Is whey dairy?
Yes. IngrediLens treats whey as a milk ingredient, so it flags it for people avoiding milk. Whey is a milk derivative and falls under the milk allergen declaration.
Is whey vegan?
No. Whey is of animal origin, so IngrediLens flags it for a vegan diet.
Related
- CaseinCasein is the main protein in milk, also sold as caseinate (sodium or calcium caseinate).
- LactalbuminLactalbumin is one of the proteins in whey, so it comes from milk.
- Milk powder (milk solids)Milk powder is dried milk, also listed as milk solids, and it contains both milk protein and lactose.
- LactoseLactose is the natural sugar in milk, also used as a carrier in tablets and powdered foods.
- Is whey dairy? Whey and casein on labelsGuide
- Hidden names for milk on food labelsGuide
- How to read allergen labels on food (EU, UK and US)Guide
Sources
Whey is a milk derivative and falls under the milk allergen declaration.
- EU Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information, Annex II (allergens)
- IngrediLens ingredient database (names, flags and notes shown on this page)
Label information, not medical advice. This page describes how an ingredient is named and labelled and how IngrediLens flags it; it cannot tell you whether a product is safe for you. Always read the label on the product itself and follow the advice of your doctor, allergist or dermatologist. If someone shows signs of anaphylaxis, use their adrenaline auto-injector if they have one and call emergency services.
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