Is Whey Vegetarian?

Vegetarian

The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.

The two diets, side by side

A vegetarian diet excludes animals that were killed. A vegan diet excludes animal products entirely, whether the animal survived or not. Whey sits in the gap between them: it clears the first bar and fails the second.

Whey is not vegan. Curdle cow's milk for cheese or yogurt and whey is the liquid that drains off, later filtered and dried into protein powder. If a protein product does not say plant-based, assume whey.

Relevant to: Milk protein · Mammal

What it is

Comes from: The liquid byproduct of cheese and yogurt production, derived from cow's milk. Contains lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin.
Which animal: cow
Requires slaughter: No, the animal keeps living
Where you meet it: Protein powders, protein bars, some breads, crackers, processed snack foods, some wine.
What replaces it: Pea protein isolate, rice protein, hemp protein, soy protein isolate.

Editorial notes

Very common in sports nutrition products. If a protein product doesn't specify 'plant-based,' it almost certainly contains whey.

Frequently asked questions

Vegetarian. The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.

Is Whey vegan?

Not Vegan. Whey is not vegan. Curdle cow's milk for cheese or yogurt and whey is the liquid that drains off, later filtered and dried into protein powder. If a protein product does not say plant-based, assume whey.

Is whey vegan?

No, whey is not vegan. Whey comes entirely from cow's milk, separating out as a liquid byproduct when cheese or strained yogurt is made. Every form of whey, including whey protein concentrate and isolate, is an animal-derived ingredient.

Is whey vegetarian?

Whey is generally considered vegetarian since it comes from milk and involves no slaughter. However, sweet whey from cheesemaking may be produced using animal rennet, an enzyme traditionally taken from calf stomachs, so some strict vegetarians avoid it unless the source is specified. Microbial rennet is common in modern production. Labels rarely say which was used.

Is whey protein dairy?

Yes, whey protein is a dairy product by definition. Whey is one of the two main protein groups in cow's milk, and casein is the other. Products containing whey must declare milk as an allergen in the US and EU.