Is Protein Granola Bars Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Quaker
This page reviews Protein Granola Bars by Quaker as a snack. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Tbhq.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several processed ingredients like sugar and palm oil, which raise quality concerns. The presence of whey protein and soy lecithin indicates a mix of good and medium quality components.
Main concern
High sugar content from multiple sources, including sugar and corn syrup, raises concerns.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains whole grain oats, providing fiber and essential nutrients.
- Whey protein crisps contribute protein content, beneficial for muscle maintenance.
- Chicory root extract adds dietary fiber, supporting digestive health.
- Tocopherols are included as natural preservatives, enhancing shelf life.
Concerns
- High sugar content from multiple sources, including sugar and corn syrup, raises concerns.
- Palm oil and palm kernel oil are present, which are often criticized for environmental impact.
- TBHQ is a synthetic antioxidant used for freshness, raising quality concerns.
- Soy lecithin is a processed emulsifier, which may not appeal to all consumers.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this snack and why it matters.
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Is Whole Grain Oats safe in this snack?
Good
Whole Grain Oats is used here as base. Whole grain oats provide dietary fiber and essential nutrients, contributing positively to the overall quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: WHOLE GRAIN OATS
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Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a highly processed sweetener that contributes to the overall sugar content, raising health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
-
Is Brown Rice Crisps safe in this snack?
Medium
Brown Rice Crisps is used here as base. Brown rice crisps add texture and some nutrients but are processed and contain added sugar and salt.
Role in formula: base
Original: BROWN RICE CRISPS [WHOLE, GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR,, SUGAR, SALT]
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Is Soybean Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Soybean Oil is used here as base. Soybean oil is a common cooking oil that is processed, raising some concerns about quality and sourcing.
Role in formula: base
Original: SOYBEAN OIL
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Is Whey Protein Concentrate safe in this snack?
Good
Whey Protein Concentrate is used here as base. Whey protein concentrate is a high-quality protein source, beneficial for muscle recovery and growth.
Role in formula: base
Original: WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
Read the full ingredient profile for Whey Protein Concentrate
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Is Palm Kernel Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Palm Kernel Oil is used here as base. Palm kernel oil is a highly processed fat that raises environmental and health concerns due to its saturated fat content.
Role in formula: base
Original: PALM KERNEL OIL
-
Is Tbhq safe in this snack?
Bad
Tbhq is used here as preservative. TBHQ is a synthetic antioxidant used to preserve freshness, raising concerns about synthetic additives in food.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: TBHQ
-
Is Tocopherols safe in this snack?
Good
Tocopherols is used here as antioxidant. Tocopherols are natural antioxidants that help preserve freshness without the concerns associated with synthetic preservatives.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: TOCOPHEROLS
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 2413706
More from this brand: Quaker products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk , soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.