Compare snack bars

Research · Snack bars

What our research found about snack bars

Snack and protein bars span a wide range: whole-food bars built from dates and nuts, fruit bars, granola bars, and protein bars that use protein isolates and syrups or non-sugar sweeteners. The recorded ingredient lists show the split clearly: whole-food bars are short and recognizable, while many protein bars list isolates, fibers, glycerin, sweeteners and natural flavors.

Compare added sugars, protein, fiber and sweetener type. Protein bars often use sugar alcohols or other non-sugar sweeteners, and added fibers such as chicory-root inulin can cause digestive upset in some people. Bars are a convenience food; the label tells you whether you are buying a fruit-and-nut snack or a candy-style bar with protein.

Products

8114 brands

Full labels recorded

4252% of the shelf

Maker says organic

7maker’s claim

List an added sweetener

20of 42 labels

List a seed oil

11of 42 labels

Typical label length

10ingredients (median)

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

• Added sugars and sweeteners. Compare grams of added sugar and whether sugar alcohols, stevia or monk fruit are used.
• Protein source. Whey, milk, egg, nut and pea proteins differ in allergens and sourcing.
• Oil and binders. Syrups, glycerin and palm oil often bind bars together.
• Fiber additives. Inulin and other added fibers can cause gas in some people.

References

1. Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2. Protein Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
3. Aspartame and other sweeteners in food U.S. Food and Drug Administration
4. Fiber Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health