Is Nature Valley Crunchy Canadian Maple Syrup ultra-processed?

420 gram Energy bars Sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland and 4 more countries

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Emulsifier
Flavouring
E322 Lecithins

12 ingredients
4 additives

Less processed energy 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

whole oat flakes 60%, sugar (processing marker), refined sunflower oil (processing marker), maple syrup (processing marker) 2%, honey (processing marker), natural aroma (ultra-processing marker), salt (processing marker), emulsifier (ultra-processing marker) (sunflower lecithin (ultra-processing marker)), gasifier (sodium acid carbonate), cane molasses (processing marker)

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate

As written on the pack

whole oat flakes (60%), sugar, refined sunflower oil, canada maple syrup (2%), honey, natural aroma, salt, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), gasifier (sodium acid carbonate), cane molasses,

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.
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.

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.

Honey Honey, used as a sweetener.
Maple syrup An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
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 126 energy bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 64th. 87% of the energy 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 126 energy bars, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 8410076801203, last edited 28 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.