Key findings
- 1Hemp hearts are mechanically shelled with no chemical processing
- 2The dehulling process is identical in principle to shelling any nut or seed
- 3Hemp protein powder and hemp oil are further processed derivatives, with more steps than the seeds themselves
Why is Hemp Seeds Level 1 on average?
Hemp hearts (the most common form sold at retail) are produced by mechanical dehulling: the hard outer shell of Cannabis sativa seeds is cracked and separated using impact hullers or rubber rollers, leaving the soft inner kernel. This is the same basic process used for sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and other shelled seeds. No solvents, heat treatments, or chemical agents are used. Hulling removes the fibrous outer casing and nothing else. Whole unhulled hemp seeds are even less processed but are less commonly sold for eating. In our analysis, hemp seed products average a Processing Score of 1.4, which is Level 1.
How 100 hemp seeds products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Hemp Seeds brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a hemp seeds label
- 1
Hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds) should list one ingredient: hemp seeds
- 2
Whole unhulled hemp seeds are equally unprocessed. It is just less common for eating
- 3
Hemp protein powder involves further processing (pressing out oil, milling)
- 4
Look for cold-pressed hemp oil; refined versions are more processed
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Frequently asked questions
Are hemp seeds the same as hemp hearts?
Hemp hearts are hulled (shelled) hemp seeds with the hard outer casing removed. Both are single-ingredient foods. Hemp hearts are more commonly sold for eating because the hull is tough and fibrous.
Is hemp protein powder ultra-processed?
Hemp protein powder takes more steps than the seeds. After hulling, the seeds are cold-pressed to extract oil, and the remaining cake is milled into powder. No chemical solvents are used, but it involves more processing steps than whole seeds.
Are hemp seeds legal?
Yes. Hemp seeds sold as food contain negligible THC (less than 0.3%) and are legal throughout the United States. The hulling process removes any trace amounts from the outer shell. This is a regulatory distinction, not a processing one.