Food
Nature's Bakery Fig Bar
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 14
Nature's Bakery Fig Bar scores 14 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: 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 fruit bars
-
Probiotic Fruit Bar Fig That's It. · 1.2 oz/35 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
Apple + Fig Fruit Bar That's It. · 1.2 oz/35 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
Trader Joe’s Organic Mango Fruit Bars Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
Mini fruit bars apple + strawberry Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
Layered Fruit Bars Pure Organic Less sugar · No seed oils Score 55 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Fig Bar
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Glycerin minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Pectin minus 1.5 points
- Locust bean gum minus 1.5 points
- Canola oil minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 33.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 0.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 351 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 5.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 86.5 = 13.5 → 14
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 351 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 66.7 g |
| Sugars | 33.3 g |
| Fiber | 5.3 g |
| Protein | 5.3 g |
| Salt | 0.4 g |
Ingredients
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Cane Sugar (high concern)
- Fig Paste (not recognized)
- Brown Rice Syrup (high concern)
- Strawberry Jam (Naturally Milled Sugar, Cane Sugar, Strawberry Puree, Rice Starch, Glycerin, Apple Powder, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Pectin, Locust Bean Gum)
- Canola Oil
- Whole Grain Oats
- Glycerin
- Fruit Juice (for color)
- Sea Salt
- Natural Flavor
- Citric Acid
- Baking Soda CONTAINS WHEAT
Label text, as published
Whole Wheat Flour, Cane Sugar, Fig Paste, Brown Rice Syrup, Strawberry Jam (Naturally Milled Sugar, Cane Sugar, Strawberry Puree, Rice Starch, Glycerin, Apple Powder, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Pectin, Locust Bean Gum), Canola Oil, Whole Grain Oats, Glycerin, Fruit Juice (for color), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Baking Soda CONTAINS WHEAT
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
-
“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
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“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