Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Harvest Moon Vitamin and Protein Bars ultra-processed?

3 x 40 g Protein bars Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Harvest Moon Vitamin and Protein Bars

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:

  • 73 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

milk chocolate with sweetener 24% (Maltitols, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass, Sweet Whey Powder, Lecithins), caramel flavour layer 15% (Polydextrose, Beef Collagen Hydrolysate, Sunflower Oil, Glycerol, Lecithins, Flavouring), Beef Collagen Hydrolysate, Milk Protein, Whey Protein Isolate, Polydextrose, Calcium Caseinate, Glycerol, Soya Protein Crispies (Soya Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Barley Malt Extract, Salt), chocolate chips with sweetener 3% (Cocoa Mass, Maltitols, Cocoa Powder, Lecithins, Vanilla Extract), Sunflower Oil, Salt, Caramel Syrup, Flavouring, Sucralose, vitamins, vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, other gluten sources, sesame, warning (Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects), flavourings, preservatives, The quantity of cocoa required for this product is sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade, ensuring cocoa producers received Fairtrade terms, It may be mixed during processing with non-certified cocoa, so that the total matches the amount sourced as Fairtrade (mass balance), For more information visit info.fairtrade.net, sourcing If you are not entirely satisfied with this product please return it to the store where it was purchased and we will be pleased to replace and refund it, This does not affect your statutory rights, aldi specially produced for (Aldi Stores Ltd), PO Box 26, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 2SH, Aldi Stores, Ltd, PO Box 726, Naas, Co, Kildare, www.aldi.com

Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E322 Lecithins , E422 Glycerol , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: Whey.

As written on the pack

MILK CHOCOLATE WITH SWEETENER (24%) (Sweetener: Maltitols; Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass, Sweet Whey Powder (Milk), Emulsifier: Lecithins), CARAMEL FLAVOUR LAYER (15%) (Humectant: Polydextrose; Beef Collagen Hydrolysate, Sunflower Oil, Humectant: Glycerol; Emulsifier: Lecithins; Flavouring), Beef Collagen Hydrolysate, Concentrated Milk Protein, Whey Protein Isolate (Milk), Polydextrose, Calcium Caseinate (Milk), Humectant: Glycerol; Soya Protein Crispies (Soya Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Barley Malt Extract, Salt), CHOCOLATE CHIPS WITH SWEETENER (3%) (Cocoa Mass, Sweetener: Maltitols; Cocoa Powder, Emulsifier: Lecithins (Soya); Vanilla Extract), Sunflower Oil, Salt, Caramel Syrup, Flavouring, Sweetener: Sucralose; Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Thiamin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12. ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens, see ingredients in bold. May also contain nuts, peanuts, other gluten sources and sesame. WARNING: Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects. No artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives. The quantity of cocoa required for this product is sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade, ensuring cocoa producers received Fairtrade terms. It may be mixed during processing with non-certified cocoa, so that the total matches the amount sourced as Fairtrade (mass balance). For more information visit info.fairtrade.net/sourcing If you are not entirely satisfied with this product please return it to the store where it was purchased and we will be pleased to replace or refund it. This does not affect your statutory rights. ALDI SPECIALLY PRODUCED FOR: Aldi Stores Ltd., PO Box 26, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 2SH. Aldi Stores (Ireland) Ltd., PO Box 726, Naas, Co. Kildare. www.aldi.com

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.
  • Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.

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.
  • 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.
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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • 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.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 313th. 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 4088600560304, last edited 8 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.