Protein Bars Review

Protein bar buyers need to be aware that sometimes the protein bars are not always what the labels say they are. It is true that protein bars can be convenient and useful alternatives to protein powder as meal replacements. There are so many different kind available claiming to help with weight gain, weight loss, and other things. However, protein bars are often falsely labeled.

In 2001, Consumer Labs looked into the contents of 30 nutrition bars including protein, energy, diet, and meal replacement bars. The study found that more than 60% of the bars made false claims on their labels. This includes showing only 1 in 12 protein bars, 1 in 8 meal replacement bars, 4 in 10 diet bars, 4 in 5 energy bars, and 5 in 5 non-specific bars passing scrutiny of the label claims.

The study looked at the amount of carbs, calories, protein, fat, sodium, and cholesterol. The study failed the ones that did not have the same amount of any of these things as the label claimed. 18 of the bars failed the test.

The main category the bars failed in was related to the amount of carbs said to be in the protein bars. 15 of the bars had more carbs than their label said. This includes a low carb bar whose label said it had 2g of carbs, but it actually had 22g. This is due to the FDA considering glycerin a carb and the manufacturers not counting it in the carb count. On average the bars that failed contained 8 more grams than the label said. Glycerin is added to sweet and make the protein bar more moist, thus better tasting bars tend to less healthy.

Seven of the bars failed sodium wise, as they contained 2 to 3 times more sodium than the label stated. Two of the protein bars had more fat than labeled. Four bars had more saturated fat than labeled.

All of the bars passed the cholesterol part of the test with most having les than 5mg. Total calorie counts were also all correct, but they were mislabeled in other areas to hide the carb calories.

Protein bars tend to be expensive even if they are mislabeled. One of the easiest ways to tell it might be mislabeled is that it contains glycerin and the fine print will sometimes even say it is not counted in carb count.