Is Barebells Caramel Cashew ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 21 ingredients
- 5 additives
Less processed protein bars
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
whey protein blend (calcium caseinate, whey protein (ultra-processing marker), whey protein isolate (ultra-processing marker)), hydrolyzed bovine collagen, polydextrose, water, cocoa butter (processing marker), dry whole milk (processing marker), maltitol (ultra-processing marker), dextrose (ultra-processing marker), chocolate, peanut paste, cocoa processed with alkali, cashew, sunflower oil (processing marker), chocolate, natural and artificial flavors (ultra-processing marker), salt (processing marker), sunflower lecithin (ultra-processing marker), sucralose (ultra-processing marker)
Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol
As written on the pack
whey protein blend (calcium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate), hydrolyzed bovine collagen, polydextrose, water, cocoa butter, dry whole milk, maltitol, dextrose, unsweetened chocolate, peanut paste (peanuts), cocoa processed with alkali, roasted cashew pieces, sunflower oil, unsweetened chocolate, natural and artificial flavors, salt, sunflower lecithin, sucralose
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.
- E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
- E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
- 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.
- Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
- Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
- Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
5 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.
- Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.
- 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.
- Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.
Among 426 protein bars
From least to most processed, this one ranks 271st. 93% of the protein bars here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0850000429093, last edited 2 October 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.