Is Ica Basic Protein Bar Chocolate ultra-processed?

35g Protein bars Sold in Sweden

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Emulsifier
Flavouring
Glucose
Glucose syrup
Milk proteins
Fructose
and 3 more

34 ingredients
3 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

Mjölkprotein (ultra-processing marker), glukossirap (ultra-processing marker), fruktossirap (ultra-processing marker), överdrag 14% (socker (processing marker), olja och fett (palm, shea (processing marker)), fettreducerad kakao, emulgeringsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (solroslecitin (ultra-processing marker), sorbitantristearat (ultra-processing marker)), arom (ultra-processing marker)), mörk choklad 8% (kakaomassa, socker (processing marker), kakaosmör (processing marker), emulgeringsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (solroslecitin (ultra-processing marker)), arom (ultra-processing marker)), ärt, protein, kollagen (ultra-processing marker), protein (vassleprotein (ultra-processing marker) (från mjölk), rismjöl, emulgeringsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (soja, lecitin (ultra-processing marker))), rapsolja, arom (ultra-processing marker), emulgeringsmedel (ultra-processing marker) (sojalecitin (ultra-processing marker))

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E492 Sorbitan tristearate

As written on the pack

Mjölkprotein (EU), glukossirap, fruktossirap, överdrag 14% (socker, vegetabilisk olja och fett (palm, shea), fettreducerad kakao, emulgeringsmedel (solroslecitin, sorbitantristearat), arom), mörk choklad (8%), (kakaomassa, socker, kakaosmör, emulgeringsmedel (solroslecitin), arom), ärt - protein, hydrolyserat kollagen, proteinkrisp (vassleprotein (från mjölk), rismjöl, emulgeringsmedel (soja - lecitin)), rapsolja, arom, emulgeringsmedel (sojalecitin). Kan innehålla spår av sojaprotein och ägg.

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.
E492 Sorbitan tristearate Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
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.

Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
Glucose syrup 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.
Fructose Fructose is the sugar found naturally in fruit and honey, but as an ingredient it is refined industrially, mostly from corn starch.
Collagen An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.

2 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.

Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 336th. 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 7318690155218, last edited 2 April 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.