Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Nōshu LOW CARB indulgence cherry & coconut ultra-processed?

Protein bars Sold in Australia

Pack of Nōshu LOW CARB indulgence cherry & coconut

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:

  • 32 ingredients
  • 9 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

dark chocolate 26%, cocoa solids, non-gmo erythritol, inulin, milk, steviol glycosides (stevia leaf extract), soy lecithin, salt, desiccated coconut 22%, isomalto-oligosaccharides (soluble fibre), prebiotic chicory root fibre, polydextrose, low sugar cherry fruit bites 6.7% (vegetable fibre, soluble corn fibre, cherry juice 8.7%, pectin), vegetable glycerine, coconut milk, cocoa butter, vegetable fat, emulsifiers (1450, 476), natural flavours, natural colours (koji rice extract, red beet), monk fruit extract, dark chocolate contains minimum 40% cocoa solids

Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E422 Glycerol , E440 Pectins , E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate , E960 Steviol glycosides , E968 Erythritol

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate, E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate, E968 Erythritol.

As written on the pack

dark chocolate (26%) cocoa solids, non-gmo erythritol, inulin, milk solids, steviol glycosides (stevia leaf extract), soy lecithin, salt], desiccated coconut (22%) (contains sulphites), isomalto - oligosaccharides (soluble fibre), prebiotic chicory root fibre, polydextrose, low sugar cherry fruit bites (6.7%) [vegetable fibre, soluble corn fibre, cherry juice (8.7%), pectin], vegetable glycerine, coconut milk powder (contains milk), cocoa butter, vegetable fat, emulsifiers (1450, 476), natural flavours, natural colours (koji rice extract, red beet extract), monk fruit extract. dark chocolate contains minimum 40% cocoa solids. contains: milk, soy & sulphites. may be present: peanuts, tree nuts, sesame

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.

  • E1450 Starch sodium octenyl succinate 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.
  • 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.
  • E440 Pectins Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace.
  • E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) is an emulsifier made from castor oil.
  • E960 Steviol glycosides Steviol glycosides are sweet compounds extracted and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant.
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  • 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.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • 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.
  • Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.

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.

  • Vegetable fiber Isolated plant fibres, such as inulin, oat fibre or bamboo fibre, are extracted industrially and added to change texture or support "source of fibre" claims.
3 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.
  • 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 403rd. 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 9351777001426, last edited 28 May 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.