Is Protein Powder a supplement?

In most cases, protein powder is used as a supplement to your normal whole food protein intake. In the case of meal replacement it may not be appropriate to classify protein powder as a supplement.

To know if a protein powder is classified as a food item or a supplement by the USDA, you can check the label. If the product is marked with a “Supplement Facts” label then it is a supplement. If it’s marked with a “Nutritional Facts” label then it is a food item.