Protein bars
Pure Protein Protein bar
1.76 oz/50 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 16
Pure Protein Protein bar scores 16 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Caramel: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 8 points 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring, humectant, industrial protein, non-nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better protein bars
-
Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR RXBAR · 1 bar (52 g) Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 77 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
High Protein Protein Bar Think! · 141603638 Less saturated fat · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 57 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR · 18.3 oz/520 g Less saturated fat · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 65 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Brownie Crunch Protein Bar Think! · 10.5 oz Less saturated fat · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 57 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Multi-Pack - Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Lemon Coconut, Peanut Butter Chocolate Simply Protein Less saturated fat · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 63 out of 100 , 47 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Protein bar
Ingredients
- Caramel minus 20 points
- Chocolate (sweetened, ingredient) minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 4 points
- Carrageenan minus 4 points
- Protein blend (unspecified) minus 1.5 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Maltitol minus 0.5 points
- Palm kernel oil minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Collagen minus 0.5 points
- Glycerin minus 0.5 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 8 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 380 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 40 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 84 = 16
Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [24]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12 g |
| Saturated fat | 8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Added sugars | 2 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 40 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 bar (50 g)
Ingredients
- Protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate)
- chocolate flavored coating (maltitol, fractionated palm kernel oil, whey protein concentrate, cocoa [processed with alkali], calcium carbonate, natural flavors, soy lecithin, sucralose) (moderate concern)
- caramel layer (maltitol syrup, nonfat dry milk, heavy cream, water, milk protein concentrate, palm kernel oil, butter, disodium phosphate, caramel, natural flavor, soy lecithin, carrageenan) (high concern)
- hydrolyzed collagen
- glycerin
- water
- peanuts
- natural flavors
- soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt)
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- almond butter
Label text, as published
Protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate), chocolate flavored coating (maltitol, fractionated palm kernel oil, whey protein concentrate, cocoa [processed with alkali], calcium carbonate, natural flavors, soy lecithin, sucralose), caramel layer (maltitol syrup, nonfat dry milk, heavy cream [cream, milk, cellulose gel, milk solids, cellulose gum], water, milk protein concentrate, palm kernel oil, butter, disodium phosphate, caramel, natural flavor, soy lecithin, carrageenan), hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin, water, peanuts, natural flavors, soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), sucralose, almond butter.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Soy
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More protein bars on GoodSwap
-
Blueberry RXBAR RXBAR · 52 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarNo additives Score 64 out of 100 Good -
Iq Bar 18 Protein Bar Variety Pack IQ Bar · 816 g Seed-oil free Score 97 out of 100 Excellent -
Protein Bars RXBAR Score 99 out of 100 Excellent -
Protein Bar Cookies & Caramel Barebells · 141605114 Contains non-nutritive sweetenersContains sugar alcoholsContains seed oilsContains artificial flavors Score 89 out of 100 Excellent -
Coconut Chocolate RXBAR · 52 g High in sugarNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
12 Organic Protein Bars Variety Pack - Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter with Sea Salt Perfect Bar · 816 g Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsCertified organic Score 70 out of 100 Good
More from Pure Protein
-
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER protein bar Pure Protein · 50 g Score 28 out of 100 Poor -
Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe Pure Protein · 50 g Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
PURE PROTEIN Chewy Chocolate Chip Pure Protein · 1.76 oz Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Chocolate Deluxe Pure Protein · 40.56 oz Score 23 out of 100 Poor
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
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
who.int
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.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
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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