ConsumerLab.com Product Review: Nutrition Bars (High Protein Bars, Low-Carb/Diet Bars, Energy Bars, and Meal-Replacement Bars)

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Product Review: Nutrition Bars (High Protein Bars, Low-Carb/Diet Bars, Energy Bars, and Meal-Replacement Bars)

Initial Posting: 1/23/05

IF YOU USE NUTRITION BARS, READ THIS REPORT! MAJOR DIFFERENCES AND INACCURACIES REVEALED FROM NEW TESTING

Alphabetical list of brands for the 34 products tested.

151	Detour	Nutrilite
Atkins	Dexatrim	PowerBar
Balance	Dr. Sears	Promax
Carb Minders	EAS	Pure Protein
Carb Options	GeniSoy	Rich & Creamy CarbWise
Carb Solutions	Kashi	Slim-Fast
CarboRite	Keto Bar	Think Thin!
Clif Luna	Muscletech	XS
Delicious Crispy CarbWise	Met-Rx	Zone Perfect

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Nutrition bars (protein, low-carb/diet, energy, or meal-replacement) can be a good, occasional source of nutrition.

But ConsumerLab.com found one product with 33% more carbohydrates than claimed and two bars each with about one extra gram of saturated fat. Other bars met their claims but ranged widely from one another in nutritional content.

Results for 34 different nutrition bars are available to help guide you in your product selection.

You need to subscribe to get all the test results and ConsumerLab.com's valuable recommendations. In this comprehensive report, you'll discover:

Which products failed and which passed our tests and why.
How many carbs and "bad" fats are really in bars.
Which bars provide the most energy and protein?
The pros and cons of sweeteners such as lactitol and maltitol.

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Summary for non-subscribers:

Background:
Nutrition bars go by many names including "high protein bars," "low carb/diet bars," "energy bars," and "meal-replacement bars." Nutrition bars are generally much larger by weight than snack bars (such as granola bars) or candy bars (such as chocolate bars) and have a much higher protein content — generally 10 grams to 30 grams of protein in a nutrition bar versus little or no protein in a snack bar or candy bar. (See ConsumerTips™ for daily nutritional requirements and assessing ingredients in nutrition bars).

Quality Concerns and What CL Tested For:
A concern among bar products, however, is whether they contain what is stated on their labels. In 2001, testing by ConsumerLab.com found most bars to be mislabeled, with many containing undeclared carbohydrates. At around the same time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to several manufacturers who failed to include certain ingredients in the carbohydrate counts stated on their products.

ConsumerLab.com, as part of its mission to independently evaluate products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition, recently purchased more samples of many of the nutrition bars sold in the U.S. (including those designed for diet, energy, protein, or meal-replacement) and tested their nutritional claims (see How Products were Selected). The products were analyzed to determine their total calories, total carbohydrates, total sugars, sugar alcohols, total protein, total fat (including a breakout of saturated fat), sodium and cholesterol. Results were evaluated to determine if the products' labeling claims were accurate (see Testing Methods and Passing Score).

What CL Found:
The majority of bars tested met their claims, but the following problems were found in three products:

A protein bar contained 33% more carbohydrates (8.3 grams) than its stated 25 grams.
A low-carb bar contained 50% more (1 gram) of saturated fat than its stated 2 grams.
An energy/nutrition bar contained approximately 27% more saturated fat (.8 grams) than the 3 grams claimed.

Update:
Update (2/16/05): Originally it was reported that a fourth product, Slim-Fast® Meal Options® Breakfast & Lunch Bars (Dutch Chocolate), was found to contain a undeclared sugar alcohol called lactitol. This was in error. This product has passed testing. The report has been updated to reflect this change.

Differences in the nutritional design among products were striking. Although bars can be a good, occasional source of nutrition for people on the go, it is essential that consumers appreciate how one bar may differ from the next and which is best for them. The key differences are explained in the full report.

Test Results by Product:
The full report gives you results for 34 nutrition bar products. Shown as examples below are 15 products that met their label claims and were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors through CL's Voluntary Certification Program. In the full report you'll get the pass/fail results for nineteen additional products that ConsumerLab.com chose for testing.

Products are grouped by type and appear alphabetically within these groups. (Note: Some products could be categorized into more than one group, e.g., "high protein" and "energy," but are shown in one category only). The last column provides a link to complete Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts as listed on each product as well as its complete list of ingredients. Products listed as "Approved" met their label claims.

*EXAMPLES FROM RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF NUTRITION BARS** Click on beneath a product name to find a vendor that sells it. To find retailers that sell some of the listed products click here.
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Nutrition or Supplement Facts on Label (Figures are per bar unless otherwise noted)
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Calories	Total Carb. / Sugars	Net Carb Claim	Protein	Total Fat / Sat. Fat/ Trans Fat	Sodium/ Choles- terol Full List of Ingre- dients
High Protein— Examples
Met-Rx® Sports Nutrition Protein Plus® Protein Bar (Chocolate Roasted Peanut)/ 85 g*	Dist. by Met-Rx USA Inc.		330	32 g / 10 g	N/A	32 g	9 g / 4.5 g / None listed	350 mg / 10 mg Full List
Nutrilite® Trim Advantage® Protein Bar, (Fudgy Brownie with Almonds)/60 g*	Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC		260	25 g / 10 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included	22 g	10 g / 1 g / 0 g	230 mg / 10 mg Full List
Pure Protein® Protein Revolution® High Protein Triple Layer Bar (Chocolate Peanut Caramel)/ 78 g*	Dist. by Worldwide Sport Nutritional Supple- ments, Inc.		280	26 g / 2 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included	32 g	9 g / 6 g / 0g	240 mg / 15 mg Full List
Low Carb/Diet— Examples
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Nutrition or Supplement Facts on Label (Figures are per bar unless otherwise noted)
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Calories	Total Carb. / Sugars	Net Carb Claim	Protein	Total Fat / Sat. Fat/ Trans Fat	Sodium/ Choles- terol Full List of Ingre- dients
Carb Minders™ High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets (Crispy Chocolate Peanut Bars)/ 60 g*	Dist. by Health- Smart		240	23 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	21 g	10 g / 5 g / None listed	320 mg / 0 mg Full List
Carb Minders™ High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets, (Crispy Chocolate S'mores Bars)/60 g*	Dist. by Health- Smart		240	24 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 2 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	20 g	9 g / 6 g / None listed	330 mg / 0 mg Full List
Carb Minders™ High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets (Crispy Lemon Yogurt Bars)/ 60 g*	Dist. by Health- Smart		240	23 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 4 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	20 g	9 g / 6 g / None listed	320 mg / 0 mg Full List
Carb Minders™ High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets (Crispy Raspberry Bars)/60 g*	Dist. by Health- Smart		240	24 g / 2 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	21 g	9 g / 6 g / None listed	330 mg / 0 mg Full List
Carb Solutions™ Good Mornings!™ Breakfast & Lunch Bars (Pecan Cinnamon Bun)/37 g*	Dist. by Richard- son Labs, Inc.		150	14 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 2 grams. Maltitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	13 g	7 g / 3.5 g / "partially hydrogen-ated palm oil"	160 mg / 0 mg Full List
Carb Solutions™ High Protein Bar for Low Carb Diets, Taste Sensations!™ (Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter)/60 g*	Dist. by Richard- son Labs, Inc.		250	14 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	23 g	12 g / 3.5 g / None listed	210 mg / <5 mg Full List
Delicious Crispy CarbWise™ High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets (Chocolate Peanut Crunch)/ 60 g*	Dist. by CarbWise A Division of Synergy Plus		240	23 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	21 g	10 g / 5 g / None listed	320 mg / 0 mg Full List
PowerBar® Pria™ CarbSelect™ (Peanut Butter Caramel Nut)/48 g*	Dist. by Powerbar, Inc.		170	21 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 2 grams. Sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	10 g	8 g / 5 g / 0g	160 mg / 5 mg Full List
Rich & Creamy CarbWise™ Gold High Protein Bar for Low-Carb Diets (Chocolate Caramel Peanut)/ 50 g*	Dist. by CarbWise A Division of Synergy Plus		190	18 g / 1 g	Net Carb Count: 3 grams. Maltitol, lactitol, sucralose, glycerine, and fiber not included.	18 g	7 g / 4 g / (partially hydrogen- ated soybean oil"	160 mg / <5 mg Full List
Energy— Examples
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Nutrition or Supplement Facts on Label (Figures are per bar unless otherwise noted)
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Calories	Total Carb. / Sugars	Net Carb Claim	Protein	Total Fat / Sat. Fat/ Trans Fat	Sodium/ Choles- terol Full List of Ingre- dients
PowerBar® Pria™ Deliciously Smarter™ Nutritional Energy Snack Bar (Mint Chocolate Cookie)/28 g*	Dist. by Powerbar, Inc.		110	16 g / 9 g	N/A	5 g	3.5 g / 2.5 g / None listed	90 mg / <5 mg Full List
PowerBar® The Original Performance Energy Bar™ (Cookies & Cream)/65 g*	Dist. by Powerbar, Inc.		240	45 g / 20 g	N/A	9 g	3.5 g / 0.5 g / None listed	120 mg / <5 mg Full List
XS™ Power Nutrition Energy Bars (Caramel Peanut)/ 46 g*	Dist. by Access Business Group Interna- tional LLC		180	18 g / 6 g	N/A	15 g	6 g / 2.5 g / "partially hydrogen- ated soybean and cottonseed oil"	170 mg / 0 mg Full List
Meal Replacement— Examples
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Nutrition or Supplement Facts on Label (Figures are per bar unless otherwise noted)
Product Name (Flavor)/ Bar Size	Manu- facturer or Distri- butor	Test Results = Passed Testing	Calories	Total Carb. / Sugars	Net Carb Claim	Protein	Total Fat / Sat. Fat/ Trans Fat	Sodium/ Choles- terol Full List of Ingre- dients
Nutrilite® Trim Advantage® Meal Replacement Bar (Chocolate Flavor with Coconut)/ 60 g*	Dist. by Access Business Group Interna- tional LLC		230	26 g / 16 g	N/A	15 g	8 g / 6 g / None listed	220 mg / 0 mg Full List
Slim-Fast® Meal Options® Breakfast & Lunch Bars (Dutch Chocolate)/ 34 g	Dist. by Slim-Fast Foods Company		140	20 g / 12 g	N/A	5 g	5 g / 3 g / 0 g; "partially hydrogen- ated vegetable oil"	85 mg / 5 mg Full List
* Tested through CL's Voluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after initial posting of this Product Review. ** The sugar alcohol found in this product may be natural occuring from fruits listed as ingredients. Daily consumption of three bars, however, may provide sufficient sugar alcohol to cause a laxative effect.
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time. So be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not be the same as what was tested. For each product, the sample was composed of one or more products from a lot having an expiration date (if labeled) later than the date of testing. Because ingredients and labeling may vary from lot to lot and there may be a lack of consistency within lots, CL can not assure that results for other samples will be the same as those listed above. The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information provided to it by third parties. Liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this report is hereby disclaimed.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2005. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.

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