Protein Energy Bars
Met-RX BIG 100 Vanilla Caramel Churro
3.52 oz/100 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
Why it scores 1
Met-RX BIG 100 Vanilla Caramel Churro scores 1 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 Caramel: 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
-
Vanilla Almond RXBAR · 1.83 oz Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 64 out of 100 , 63 points higher -
Salted Caramel Chip IQ Bar No sugar alcohols · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 47 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Chocolate Peanut Caramel Bar Fulfil · 1.41 oz/40 g No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 48 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Sweet & Salty Caramel Peanut Crisp Kind Protein Max No added sugars · No sugar alcohols Score 56 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Caramel Fudge Protein Bar Misfits No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 57 out of 100 , 56 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
BIG 100 Vanilla Caramel Churro
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 22 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 7 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 380 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 99 = 1
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 11 g |
| Saturated fat | 7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Sugars | 22 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 30 g |
| Salt | 1.1 g |
Serving: 1 bar (100 g)
Ingredients
- Soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt)
- yogurt coating (sugar, fractionated palm kernel oil, nonfat dry milk solids, yogurt powder, soy lecithin [emulsifier], salt, natural flavor)
- caramel layer (maltitol syrup, non fat dry milk, palm kernel oil, milk protein isolate, heavy cream, glycerin, butter, salt, mono & diglycerides, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, soy lecithin, natural flavor) (high concern)
- corn syrup (high concern)
- metamyosyn protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, dried egg white)
- brown rice syrup (high concern)
- maltitol
- glycerin
- palm oil
- water
- canola oil (with tocopherols added to protect flavor)
- ground cinnamon
- natural flavors
- brown sugar (high concern)
- fructooligosaccharides
- xanthan gum
- dipotassium phosphate
- salt
- soy lecithin
- almond butter
- peanut flour. vitamin and mineral blend: tricalcium phosphate
- ascorbic acid
- d-alpha tocopheryl acetate
- niacinamide
- zinc oxide
- copper gluconate
- d-calcium pantothenate
- vitamin a palmitate
- pyridoxine hydrochloride
- riboflavin
- thiamin mononitrate
- folic acid
- biotin
- potassium iodide
- cyanocobalamin
Label text, as published
Soy crisps (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), yogurt coating (sugar, fractionated palm kernel oil, nonfat dry milk solids, yogurt powder [cultured whey protein concentrate, cultured skim milk], soy lecithin [emulsifier], salt, natural flavor), caramel layer (maltitol syrup, non fat dry milk, palm kernel oil, milk protein isolate, heavy cream, glycerin, butter, salt, mono & diglycerides, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, soy lecithin, natural flavor), corn syrup, metamyosyn protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, dried egg white), brown rice syrup, maltitol, glycerin, palm oil, water, canola oil (with tocopherols added to protect flavor), ground cinnamon, natural flavors, brown sugar, fructooligosaccharides, xanthan gum, dipotassium phosphate, salt, soy lecithin, almond butter, peanut flour. vitamin and mineral blend: tricalcium phosphate, ascorbic acid, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin a palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, cyanocobalamin.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Soy, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More protein energy bars on GoodSwap
-
Iq Bar Chocolate Sea Salt IQ Bar · 1.6 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains non-nutritive sweetenersSeed-oil free Score 58 out of 100 Okay -
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER protein bar Pure Protein · 50 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 28 out of 100 Poor -
Blueberry RXBAR Ultra-processedHigh in sugarNo additives Score 64 out of 100 Good -
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pure Protein · 50 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 32 out of 100 Poor -
Cacao Choco Chip Feel · 2 oz Contains added sugarsSeed-oil free Score 66 out of 100 Good -
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Chewy Bar Nature Valley · 1.04 kg Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 9 out of 100 Bad
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Big 100 Peanut Butter Pretzel Met-RX · 3.52 oz/100 g Score 0 out of 100 Bad -
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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
-
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
-
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
-
“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
-
“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
-
“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