Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Trader Joe's Chewy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Protein Bars ultra-processed?

7.05 oz (200 g) Peanut bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Trader Joe's Chewy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Protein 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:

  • 27 ingredients
  • 6 additives

Less processed peanut 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

peanuts, soy protein crisp (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), semisweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural flavor), agave syrup, chicory root fiber, peanut butter, rice protein, glycerin, water, sea salt, natural flavor, sunflower oil, molasses, agar-agar, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract (to preserve)

Additives: E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E392 Extracts of rosemary , E406 Agar , E422 Glycerol

As written on the pack

peanuts, soy protein crisp (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, salt), semisweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural flavor), agave syrup, chicory root fiber, peanut butter, rice protein, glycerin, water, sea salt, natural flavor, sunflower oil, molasses, agar-agar, mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract (to preserve)

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.
  • E406 Agar A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • 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.

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.
5 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.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 42 peanut bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 27th. 90% of the peanut 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 42 peanut bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 00673853, last edited 5 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.