Protein bars
GoMacro MACROBAR timeless treasure salted caramel + chocolate chips
2.3 oz/65 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Certified organic
- No additives
- Seed-oil free
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 20
GoMacro MACROBAR timeless treasure salted caramel + chocolate chips scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: 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 granola and snack bars
-
Granola Bar, Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Munk Pack · 4.51 oz/128 g No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 60 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Soft Baked Almond Flour Bars Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Simple Mills · 5.99 oz/170 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 71 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Dark Chocolate Chip Superfood Bar Paleovalley No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 63 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Granola Bar, Coconut Chocolate Chip Munk Pack · 128 g (4 × 32 g) No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 58 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Kind Zero · 175 g No added sugars · No corn syrup Score 65 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
MACROBAR timeless treasure salted caramel + chocolate chips
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Caramel minus 20 points
- Chocolate (sweetened, ingredient) minus 7.5 points
- Protein blend (unspecified) minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 12.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Saturated fat 5.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 415 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 3.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 15.4 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 415 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 13.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 55.4 g |
| Sugars | 12.3 g |
| Added sugars | 12.3 g |
| Fiber | 3.1 g |
| Protein | 15.4 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Serving: 1 bar (65 g)
Ingredients
- Organic Brown Rice Syrup (high concern)
- Organic Protein Blend (Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Orgaic Protein)
- Organic Almond Butter
- Organic Puffed Brown Rice
- Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Coconut Sug, Or Cocoa, Organic Cocoa Butter) (moderate concern)
- Organic Vegan Caramel (Organic Coconut Milk Powder, Organic Maple Suga, Sea Sal, Organic Sunflower Seed Butter, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Coconut Oil) (high concern)
Label text, as published
Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Protein Blend (Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Orgaic Protein), Organic Almond Butter, Organic Puffed Brown Rice, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Coconut Sug, Or Cocoa, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Vegan Caramel (Organic Coconut Milk Powder, Organic Maple Suga, Sea Sal, Organic Sunflower Seed Butter, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Coconut Oil Contains: Almonds, Coconut Marias in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts May contain nutshell fragments
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts, Tree nuts
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
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 -
Crispy Dark Chocolate Almond Bar Simply Protein Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 36 out of 100 Poor -
Protein Pastry Legendary Foods · 61 g Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains sugar alcoholsContains seed oils Score 43 out of 100 Okay -
Maple Glazed Doughnut Protein Bar ONE · 2.12 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains sugar alcoholsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 52 out of 100 Okay
More from GoMacro
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 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
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