Is Mezcla Mexican Chipotle Hot Chocolate Plant Protein Bar ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
E422 Glycerol

22 ingredients
1 additive

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

Pea Crisps, Dark Chocolate, Cane Sugar (processing marker), Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Vanilla Powder, Tapioca Syrup, Sunflower Seed Butter, Vegetable Glycerine (ultra-processing marker), Pea Protein, Quinoa Crisps, Prebiotic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, Tapioca Syrup, Coconut Oil (processing marker), Tapioca Fiber, Cocoa, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt (processing marker), Cinnamon, Natural Flavor (ultra-processing marker), Vanilla Extract, Chipotle Pepper

Additives: E422 Glycerol

As written on the pack

Pea Crisps, Organic Dark Chocolate, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Powder, Tapioca Syrup, Sunflower Seed Butter, Vegetable Glycerine, Pea Protein, Organic Quinoa Crisps, Prebiotic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, Tapioca Syrup Solids, Coconut Oil, Tapioca Fiber, Unsweetened Cocoa, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Natural Flavor, Vanilla Extract, Chipotle Pepper

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.

E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
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 426 protein bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 77th. 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 0860003034125, last edited 25 June 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.