Is Nocow protein bar ultra-processed?

2.12 oz Protein bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Nocow protein bar

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:

  • 19 ingredients
  • 2 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

protein blend (brown rice protein, pea protein), isomalto-oligosaccharides (ultra-processing marker), peanut butter (peanut, salt (processing marker), palm oil), glycerine (ultra-processing marker), peanut flour, palm oil, cocoa butter (processing marker), natural flavor (ultra-processing marker), water, salt (processing marker), erythritol (ultra-processing marker), almonds, monk fruit, stevia extract

Additives: E422 Glycerol , E968 Erythritol

As written on the pack

protein blend (brown rice protein, pea protein), isomalto-oligosaccharides*, peanut butter (peanut, salt, palm oil**), glycerine, peanut flour, palm oil**, cocoa butter, natural flavor, water, salt, erythritol, almonds, monk fruit, stevia extract,

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.
  • E968 Erythritol Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
  • 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.
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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • 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 144th. 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 0852346005009, last edited 13 September 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.