Is Aloha Protein Bar, Peanut Butter Cup ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

E322 Lecithins
E422 Glycerol

14 ingredients
3 additives

Less processed protein bars

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

peanuts, tapioca fiber, protein blend (brown rice protein, pumpkin seed protein), dark chocolate (chocolate, cane sugar (processing marker), cocoa butter), tapioca syrup, vegetable glycerin (ultra-processing marker), sea salt (processing marker), monk fruit, sunflower lecithin (ultra-processing marker)

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E422 Glycerol

As written on the pack

peanuts, tapioca fiber, protein blend (brown rice protein, pumpkin seed protein), dark chocolate (chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter), tapioca syrup, vegetable glycerin, sea salt, monk fruit, sunflower lecithin

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 87th. 93% of the protein bars here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 426 protein bars, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0842096101113, last edited 4 January 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.