Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Atkins protein snack bar ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Atkins protein snack bar

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 22 ingredients
  • 5 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

peanut, malitol, inulin, whey protein isolate, palm kernel, palm oil, cream, nonfat milk, less than 2% (salt), cocoa powder, milk protein isolate, peanut oil, soy lecithin, natural flavor, sucralose, mono- and diglycerides, mixed tocopherols (to maintain freshness), made in a facility that also uses wheat, tree nuts, product size is

Additives: E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E955 Sucralose

As written on the pack

peanut, malitol, inulin, whey protein isolate, palm kernel and palm oil, cream, nonfat milk, less than 2%: salt, cocoa powder, milk protein isolate, peanut oil, soy lecithin, natural flavor, sucralose, mono and diglycerides, mixed tocopherols (to maintain freshness), contains peanuts, milk, soy, made in a facility that also uses wheat and tree nuts, product size is 44 grams

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.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Vegetable fiber Isolated plant fibres, such as inulin, oat fibre or bamboo fibre, are extracted industrially and added to change texture or support "source of fibre" claims.
4 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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 229th. 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 0637480021531, last edited 27 July 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.