Bars
Clif Bar Cliff bar
2.40 oz/68 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 15
Clif Bar Cliff bar scores 15 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 Malt 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 granola and snack bars
-
White Chocolate Macadamia Clif Bar · 68 g No added sugars · No seed oils Score 67 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Chocolate date bar Trader Joe's Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 67 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Protein Treats Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Spoon · 1.4 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 57 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Organic Orange & Sweet Potato Snack Bar Good & Gather · 3.9 oz/110 g No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 61 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Peanut Butter Chocolate ELEVATION Maxx Bar · 208 g No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 57 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
Cliff bar
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 20 points
- Invert sugar minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 25 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 1.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 382 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.4 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 85.5 = 14.5 → 15
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 | 382 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 11.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58.8 g |
| Sugars | 25 g |
| Added sugars | 22.1 g |
| Fiber | 7.4 g |
| Protein | 16.2 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 bar (68 g)
Ingredients
- ORGANIC ROLLED OATS
- ORGANIC BROWN RICE SYRUP (high concern)
- SOY RICE CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT)
- ORGANIC TAPIOCA SYRUP (high concern)
- ORGANIC CANE SYRUP (high concern)
- ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER
- ORGANIC PEANUTS
- PEANUT FLOUR
- CHICORY FIBER
- ORGANIC ROASTED SOYBEANS
- ORGANIC SOY FLOUR
- NATURAL FLAVORS SALT
- ORGANIC ROLLED OATS
- ORGANIC BROWN RICE SYRUP (high concern)
- SOY RICE CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT)
- ORGANIC ROASTED SOYBEANS
- ORGANIC TAPIOCA SYRUP (high concern)
- ORGANIC CANE SYRUP (high concern)
- UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE
- CHICORY FIBER
- ORGANIC SOY FLOUR
- SUNFLOWER
- SOYBEAN OIL
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- SALT
- ORGANIC CINNAMON
- MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT)
Label text, as published
ORGANIC ROLLED OATS, ORGANIC BROWN RICE SYRUP, SOY RICE CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT), ORGANIC TAPIOCA SYRUP, ORGANIC CANE SYRUP, ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER, ORGANIC PEANUTS, PEANUT FLOUR, CHICORY FIBER, ORGANIC ROASTED SOYBEANS, ORGANIC SOY FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVORS SALT.,ORGANIC ROLLED OATS, ORGANIC BROWN RICE SYRUP, SOY RICE CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, BARLEY MALT EXTRACT), ORGANIC ROASTED SOYBEANS, ORGANIC TAPIOCA SYRUP, ORGANIC CANE SYRUP, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, CHICORY FIBER, ORGANIC SOY FLOUR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, NATURAL FLAVORS, SALT, ORGANIC CINNAMON, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts, Soy, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More bars on GoodSwap
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Blueberry Fig Bar Nature's Bakery Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Zbar Clif Kid · 36 × 36 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 3 out of 100 Bad -
Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR · 1.83 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarNo additives Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Skinny Dipped · .53 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
Vanilla Almond RXBAR · 1.83 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarNo additives Score 64 out of 100 Good -
FIG BAR Blueberry Nature's Bakery · 6 × 2 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad
More from Clif Bar
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
-
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