Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Chef Robert Irvine's Protein Bar Baked Protein Bar ultra-processed?

Cereal bars Sold in Canada

Pack of Chef Robert Irvine's Protein Bar Baked Protein 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:

  • 43 ingredients
  • 16 additives

Less processed cereal 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

Protein blend (whey protein isolate, whey protein), Soy protein isolate, Peanuts, Palm glycerin, Palm oil, Palm kernel oil, Sugars (sugar, corn syrup, dextrose), Sorbitol, Gelatin (bovine), Brown Rice Flour, Maltitol, Water, Cocoa, Salt, Sunflower oil, Monoglycerides, Maltodextrin, Caramel colour, Vanilla, Sodium caseinate, Propylene glycol monoesters, Soy lecithin, Natural flavours, Tapioca starch, Sucralose (bar), Acetylated monoglycerides, mono- and diglycerides, Natural tocopherols, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A palmitate, Citric acid, Whey, Potassium sorbate, Silicon dioxide, Almonds, Baking soda

Additives: E150c Ammonia caramel , E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E202 Potassium sorbate , E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E420 Sorbitol , E422 Glycerol , E428 Gelatine , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E150c Ammonia caramel, E422 Glycerol.

As written on the pack

Protein blend (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate), Soy protein isolate, Peanuts, Palm glycerin, Palm oil, Palm kernel oil, Sugars (sugar, corn syrup, dextrose), Sorbitol, Gelatin [bovine], Brown Rice Flour, Maltitol, Water, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Salt, Sunflower oil, Monoglycerides, Maltodextrin, Caramel colour, Vanilla, Sodium caseinate, Propylene glycol mono-esters, Soy lecithin, Natural flavours, Tapioca starch, Sucralose (17 mg/46 g bar), Acetylated monoglycerides, Mono and diglycerides, Natural tocopherols, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A palmitate, Citric acid, Whey, Potassium sorbate, Silicon dioxide, Almonds, Baking soda

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.

  • E150c Ammonia caramel Ammonia caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonia compounds.
  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • 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.
  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E428 Gelatine Gelatine is a gelling agent made from collagen in animal skin and bones.
Show 4 more
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
  • Cocoa An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
6 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.

  • E202 Potassium sorbate Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • 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 488 cereal bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 475th. 91% of the cereal 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 488 cereal bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0817719021932, last edited 23 September 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.