Chocolate cereal bars
Clif Zbar
7.62 oz (216 g), 6 × 1.27 oz (36 g) bars
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Certified organic
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 11
Clif Zbar scores 11 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 Invert 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
-
Chocolate date bar Trader Joe's Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 67 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
White Chocolate Macadamia Clif Bar · 68 g No added sugars · No seed oils Score 67 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Peanut Butter Chocolate ELEVATION Maxx Bar · 208 g No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 57 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Larabar Cherry Pie Larabar · 1 Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 68 points higher -
Protein Treats Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Spoon · 1.4 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 57 out of 100 , 46 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Zbar
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Invert sugar minus 20 points
- Sugar 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 33.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 2.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 389 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 8.3 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 89 = 11
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 389 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 11.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69.4 g |
| Sugars | 33.3 g |
| Added sugars | 27.8 g |
| Fiber | 8.3 g |
| Protein | 5.6 g |
| Salt | 0.8 g |
Serving: 1 serving (36 g)
Ingredients
- oat blend (not recognized)
- rolled oats
- oat flour
- oat fiber
- tapioca syrup (high concern)
- cane syrup (high concern)
- fig paste (not recognized)
- cane sugar (high concern)
- cocoa
- unsweetened chocolate
- sunflower oil
- soybean oil
- natural flavors
- cocoa butter
- salt
- baking soda
- soy lecithin
- vanilla extract
- mixed tocopherols
Label text, as published
oat blend, rolled oats, oat flour, oat fiber, tapioca syrup, cane syrup, fig paste, cane sugar, cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, sunflower oil, soybean oil, natural flavors, cocoa butter, salt, baking soda, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, mixed tocopherols
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Gluten
May contain: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Sesame
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Composite material, Paperboard
Context only: no points in v1.
More chocolate cereal bars on GoodSwap
-
Granola Bar Soft & Chewy · 24 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 24 out of 100 Poor -
breakfast protein Dark Chocolate Cocoa Kind · 10.58 oz (300 g) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Chocolate Chip Made Good · 5.1 oz (144 g) Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Y Nature Valley · 13213033 Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Kind Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Kind · 6.2 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 16 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars Trader Joe's · 6.8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 10 out of 100 Bad
More from Clif
Sources
-
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
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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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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