Cereal bars
Trader Joe's Raises the Bar Chewy Granola Bar
6.2 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 12
Trader Joe's Raises the Bar Chewy Granola Bar scores 12 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better granola and snack bars
-
Soft and chewy oat bar Over Easy · 52 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 62 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
No Added Sugar Cherry Cashew Chewy Bars Flavored With Other Natural Flavors Cascadian Farm · 6 oz Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 55 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Cinnamon Apple Chewy Bars - No added Sugar Cascadian Farm Organic · 6 oz/170 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 63 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Blueberry Vanilla Chewy Bars - No Added Sugar Cascadian Farm Organic · 6 oz/170 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 63 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Peanut butter almond chewy bar Ratio · 5.64 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 54 out of 100 , 42 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Raises the Bar Chewy Granola Bar
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Honey minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 20 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 5.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 429 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 5.7 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 88 = 12
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 429 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 14.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71.4 g |
| Sugars | 20 g |
| Added sugars | 20 g |
| Fiber | 5.7 g |
| Protein | 5.7 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Serving: 1 bar (35 g)
Ingredients
- OATS
- TAPIOCA SYRUP (high concern)
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (SUGAR, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN) (moderate concern)
- HONEY (high concern)
- COCONUT
- SUNFLOWER OIL BLEND FOR FRESHNESS (SUNFLOWER OIL, MIXED TOCOPHEROL [VITAMIN E], ROSEMARY EXTRACT)
- BROWN RICE CRISP (BROWN RICE FLOUR, HONEY, SALT)
- CRISP BROWN RICE
- MILLET
- BUCKWHEAT
- OAT FLOUR
- BROWN RICE SYRUP (high concern)
- MOLASSES (high concern)
- AMARANTH
- QUINOA
- ACACIA GUM
- SEA SALT
Label text, as published
OATS, TAPIOCA SYRUP, CANE SUGAR, DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (SUGAR, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN), HONEY, COCONUT, SUNFLOWER OIL BLEND FOR FRESHNESS (SUNFLOWER OIL, MIXED TOCOPHEROL [VITAMIN E], ROSEMARY EXTRACT), BROWN RICE CRISP (BROWN RICE FLOUR, HONEY, SALT), CRISP BROWN RICE, MILLET, BUCKWHEAT, OAT FLOUR, BROWN RICE SYRUP, MOLASSES, AMARANTH, QUINOA, ACACIA GUM, SEA SALT.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Tree nuts, Soy, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cereal bars on GoodSwap
-
Sweet & Salty Nut Peanut Chewy Granola Bar Nature Valley · 35 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 5 out of 100 Bad -
ORGANIC CHEWY GRANOLA BARS mixed berry Made Good · 144 g (6 * 24 g) Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Crunchy Granola Bars Oats 'n Honey Nature Valley · 98 bars Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Chewy Variety Pack Quaker Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 2 out of 100 Bad -
KIND minis Kind Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Nutri Grain Strawberry Breakfast Bars Kellogg's · 20.8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 6 out of 100 Bad
More from Trader Joe's
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org