Cereal bars
Aldi Crunchy granola bars
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 13
Aldi Crunchy granola bars scores 13 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 Honey: 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
-
Crunchy Snack Bars Tosi · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 67 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Crunchy granola bars oats'n honey Nut Pods · 473 mL No added sugars · No seed oils Score 55 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Cashew Coconut Crunchy Bar Tosi · 1 oz 28 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 71 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Crunchy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt RawRev · 19.2 oz/544 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Frooze Balls Peanut Butter & Jelly Frooze Balls · 70 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 73 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Crunchy granola bars
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Honey minus 20 points
- Refiners syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 31 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 1.2 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 452 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 7.1 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 87 = 13
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, 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 | 452 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 14.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71.4 g |
| Sugars | 31 g |
| Added sugars | 28.6 g |
| Fiber | 7.1 g |
| Protein | 9.5 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 2 Bars (42 g)
Ingredients
- rolled oats
- sugar (high concern)
- high oleic canola oil
- cereal crisp (degerminated yellow corn flour, soy flour, sugar, salt, soy lecithin) (not recognized)
- honey (high concern)
- water
- dark refiners syrup (high concern)
- salt
- soy lecithin
- natural flavor
- sodium bicarbonate
Label text, as published
rolled oats, sugar, high oleic canola oil, cereal crisp (degerminated yellow corn flour, soy flour, sugar, salt, soy lecithin), honey, water, dark refiners syrup, salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor, sodium bicarbonate, contains: soy, may contain peanuts, almonds, milk, eggs, and wheat, aldi guarante
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Gluten
May contain: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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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
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“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
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“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