Protein bars
Hershey's ONE Cookies 'n Creme Protein Bar
2.12 oz
Score
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 65
Hershey's ONE Cookies 'n Creme Protein Bar scores 65 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 12 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 12 points High fructose corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 5 points Sucralose: In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
ONE Cookies 'n Creme Protein Bar
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 12 points
- High fructose corn syrup minus 12 points
- Sucralose minus 5 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Maltitol minus 0.5 points
- Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin) minus 0.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Glycerin minus 0.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 0.5 points
- Palm kernel oil minus 0.5 points
- Canola oil minus 0.5 points
- Palm oil minus 0.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
100 − 35 = 65
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 383 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 15 g |
| Saturated fat | 11.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41.7 g |
| Sugars | 5 g |
| Added sugars | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Protein | 30 g |
| Salt | 0.4 g |
Serving: 1 bar (60 g)
Ingredients
- Milk protein isolate
- maltitol
- soluble corn fiber
- whey protein isolate (milk)
- glycerin
- vegetable oil (palm kernel oil, canola oil, palm oil)
- cocoa butter
- isomalto-oligosaccharides
- milk protein concentrate
- water
- cornstarch
- whey protein concentrate (milk)
- sugar (high concern)
- maltitol syrup
- hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (milk)
- lecithin (soy)
- natural and artificial flavor
- cocoa processed with alkali
- salt
- tapioca starch
- skim milk
- modified cornstarch
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- cocoa
Label text, as published
Milk protein isolate, maltitol, soluble corn fiber, whey protein isolate (milk), glycerin, vegetable oil (palm kernel oil, canola oil, palm oil), cocoa butter, isomalto-oligosaccharides, milk protein concentrate, water, cornstarch, whey protein concentrate (milk), sugar, maltitol syrup, hydrolyzed whey protein isolate (milk), lecithin (soy), natural and artificial flavor, cocoa processed with alkali, salt, tapioca starch, skim milk, modified cornstarch, sucralose, high fructose corn syrup, cocoa.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy
- Not vegan
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.gov
-
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
-
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
-
“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
-
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