Is Barebells Protein Bar 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:
- 16 ingredients
- 5 additives
Less processed protein bars
-
Lemon & Pistachio Protein Balls
Alesto
13 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
-
Protein bar
Eat Natural
10 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
-
The Protein Ball Lemon & Pistachio
The Protein Ball Co
17 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
-
Pip And nut Peanut Butter protein Bars
Pip And Nut
20 ingredients · no additives
NOVA group
3
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
Milk proteins (ultra-processing marker), glycerol (ultra-processing marker), collagen hydrolysate, maltitol (ultra-processing marker), sucralose (ultra-processing marker), polydextrose, water, cocoa butter (processing marker), whole milk powder (processing marker), cashew nuts 4%, sunflower oil (processing marker), cocoa mass, peanut paste 1.8%, fat-reduced cocoa, flavourings (ultra-processing marker), lecithins (ultra-processing marker)
Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E322 Lecithins , E422 Glycerol , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol
As written on the pack
Milk proteins, humectant (glycerol), collagen hydrolysate, sweeteners (maltitol, sucralose), polydextrose, water, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, roasted cashew nuts (4%), sunflower oil, cocoa mass, peanut paste (1.8%), fat-reduced cocoa, flavourings, emulsifier (lecithins).
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.
- 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.
- Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
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.
- 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 224th. 93% of the protein bars here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 7340001800494, last edited 9 August 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.