Is it ultra-processed?
Menu

Is Nature Valley Protein Smoothie Berry Blend Chewy Bars ultra-processed?

40 g Mix of grains and dried fruit Sold in the United States

Pack of Nature Valley Protein Smoothie Berry Blend Chewy 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:

  • 25 ingredients
  • 3 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed mix of grains and dried fruit

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

Roasted Peanuts, Almonds, Soy Protein Isolate, Sugar, Chicory Root, Corn Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Blueberries, Fructose, Whey Protein Isolate, Rice Starch, Vegetable Glycerin, Cranberries, Corn Starch, Yogurt Powder, Soy Lecithin, Canola Oil, Nonfat Milk, Salt, Blueberry, Natural Flavor, Strawberry Powder, Cranberry, Sunflower Oil, Raspberry

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E422 Glycerol

As written on the pack

Roasted Peanuts, Almonds, Soy Protein Isolate, Sugar, Chicory Root Extract, Corn Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Blueberries, Fructose, Whey Protein Isolate, Rice Starch, Vegetable Glycerin, Cranberries, Corn Starch, Yogurt Powder, Soy Lecithin, Canola Oil, Nonfat Milk, Salt, Blueberry Powder, Natural Flavor, Strawberry Powder, Cranberry Powder, Sunflower Oil, Raspberry Powder.

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.
  • 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.

  • 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.
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.
  • 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 14 mix of grains and dried fruit

From least to most processed, this one ranks 13th. 29% of the mix of grains and dried fruit 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 14 mix of grains and dried fruit, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0016000334946, last edited 29 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of D (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.