Sean Moloughney08.13.08
Labeling on nutrition bars has become more accurate, according to a new report by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, which compared 20 protein, fiber, energy and whole food bars.
Unlike tests in 2001 that found many undeclared carbohydrates along with mislabeled bars, and tests in 2005 that revealed incorrect labeling on three products, the latest evaluation showed no inaccuracies. However, ConsumerLab.com found a wide range in nutritional content across the bars, creating the potential for consumer confusion, the report says.
For example, in some “protein” bars, more than half of fats are saturated. USDA recommends that less than one-third of fat in the diet should be saturated. Bars made with whole foods, particularly nuts, can also have high amounts of fat—over 30% of one bar’s weight was fat. Fats have more than twice the calories per gram as carbohydrates. However, fats from nuts are generally “good fats,” or unsaturated.
In an effort to reduce calories, some bars contain many grams of sugar alcohols, such as maltitol and lactitol. While these provide far fewer calories than sugar, they can cause gas and discomfort.
Consumerlab.com also cautions people who take vitamins or fortified products (such as fortified breakfast cereal) to be careful not to exceed tolerable levels. Young children should not be fed highly fortified bars, it says.
“Bars can be a good occasional source of nutrients such as protein for people on the go, but they vary dramatically in their content,” said Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com. “Before eating a bar, a consumer should be sure it has what he or she needs without unwanted ingredients.”
The new report includes analyses of products from the following brands: Balance, Gnu, Greens, Kellogg’s Special K, Larabar, Luna, Met-Rx, MHP Probolic, Muscletech, Odwalla, Organic Food Bar, Promax, Pure Protein, Renew Life, Slim-Fast, South Beach Diet, Soyjoy (Pharmavite), VPX Zero Impact, and Zone Perfect. ConsumerLab.com selected 16 of the products in the report and four others were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors.
Unlike tests in 2001 that found many undeclared carbohydrates along with mislabeled bars, and tests in 2005 that revealed incorrect labeling on three products, the latest evaluation showed no inaccuracies. However, ConsumerLab.com found a wide range in nutritional content across the bars, creating the potential for consumer confusion, the report says.
For example, in some “protein” bars, more than half of fats are saturated. USDA recommends that less than one-third of fat in the diet should be saturated. Bars made with whole foods, particularly nuts, can also have high amounts of fat—over 30% of one bar’s weight was fat. Fats have more than twice the calories per gram as carbohydrates. However, fats from nuts are generally “good fats,” or unsaturated.
In an effort to reduce calories, some bars contain many grams of sugar alcohols, such as maltitol and lactitol. While these provide far fewer calories than sugar, they can cause gas and discomfort.
Consumerlab.com also cautions people who take vitamins or fortified products (such as fortified breakfast cereal) to be careful not to exceed tolerable levels. Young children should not be fed highly fortified bars, it says.
“Bars can be a good occasional source of nutrients such as protein for people on the go, but they vary dramatically in their content,” said Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com. “Before eating a bar, a consumer should be sure it has what he or she needs without unwanted ingredients.”
The new report includes analyses of products from the following brands: Balance, Gnu, Greens, Kellogg’s Special K, Larabar, Luna, Met-Rx, MHP Probolic, Muscletech, Odwalla, Organic Food Bar, Promax, Pure Protein, Renew Life, Slim-Fast, South Beach Diet, Soyjoy (Pharmavite), VPX Zero Impact, and Zone Perfect. ConsumerLab.com selected 16 of the products in the report and four others were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors.