Snacks
Cliff builders protein bars
28.80 oz/816 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
Why it scores 0
Cliff builders protein bars scores 0 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Invert sugar: 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 protein bars
-
Protein Pleasure Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip go macro MACROBAR · 2.3 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 42 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
MACROBAR peanut butter chocolate chip GoMacro · 9.7 oz/276 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 42 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
think! HIGH PROTEIN PROTEIN BAR Think! · 60gr Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 57 out of 100 , 57 points higher -
Protein Bar RXBAR · 1.83 oz/52 g Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 65 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
MACROBAR protein replenishment peanut butter GoMacro · 65 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 46 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
Cliff builders protein bars
Ingredients
- Invert sugar minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 25 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 8.8 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 426 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 100.5 = -0.5 → 0
Can’t score above 79. Contains invert sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 426 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 8.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42.7 g |
| Sugars | 25 g |
| Added sugars | 25 g |
| Fiber | 2.9 g |
| Protein | 29.4 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 bar (68 g)
Ingredients
- SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE
- CANE SYRUP (high concern)
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- BROWN RICE SYRUP (high concern)
- PALM KERNEL OIL
- VEGETABLE GLYCERIN
- SOY FLOUR
- RICE FLOUR
- CHICORY FIBER SYRUP
- PEANUTS
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- PEANUT BUTTER
- COCOA BUTTER
- COCOA
- SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- SUNFLOWER
- SOYBEAN OIL
- SALT
- RICE STARCH
- SOY LECITHIN
- MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT)
Label text, as published
SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CANE SYRUP*, CANE SUGAR*, BROWN RICE SYRUP*, PALM KERNEL OIL, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, SOY FLOUR*, RICE FLOUR*, CHICORY FIBER SYRUP, PEANUTS*, NATURAL FLAVORS, PEANUT BUTTER*, COCOA BUTTER, COCOA, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE*, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, SALT, RICE STARCH, SOY LECITHIN, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts, Soy
- Not 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
-
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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu