Why is Nutrigrain Bar classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is ultra‑processed because it blends refined grains, added sugars, vegetable oil and a long list of industrial food additives. The ingredient list includes emulsifiers (E471 mono‑ and diglycerides), stabilisers (E401 sodium alginate, E407 carrageenan, E412 guar gum), acidity regulators (E330 citric acid, E331 sodium citrate), lecithin (E322), calcium carbonate, cellulose, methylcellulose and various fortified vitamins and minerals.

How does the sugar and salt content in this bar affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

At 29.7 g of sugars per 100 g, the bar can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control unless portions are very small. The 0.78 g of salt per 100 g is below the average snack bar but still adds to daily sodium intake, which can be problematic for people managing hypertension if the product is eaten regularly.

Is Nutrigrain Bar suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or other strict dietary regimes?

No. The bar contains wheat‑derived ingredients (whole grain oats, wheat flour, wheat gluten) and soy‑derived components, so it is not gluten‑free. It also includes whey and milk, excluding it from vegan and dairy‑free diets, although it does provide added B‑vitamins and iron.

Nutrigrain • 1.3oz (37g)

Nutri Grain Blueberry

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Nutrigrain Bar is a cereal‑based snack classified in the sugary snacks and biscuits‑and‑cakes groups. It carries a Nutri‑Score of D and is placed in NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product that contains numerous additives such as E322, E401, E461 and E471. While it provides 5.4 g of fiber per 100 g and added vitamins and minerals, it also delivers 29.7 g of sugars and 0.78 g of salt, making its overall nutritional profile high in sugar and moderate in salt despite modest fat and protein levels.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

moderate

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal130 kcal

Fat3.5 g

Saturated Fat0.5 g

Carbohydrates25 g

Sugars11 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack bar (28.98 g sugar, 17.65 g fat, 1.98 g salt per 100 g), this bar has slightly higher sugar, markedly lower fat, and substantially less salt.

Ingredients

WHOLE GRAIN OATS, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, VITAMIN B1 [THIAMIN MONONITRATE], VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN), FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, FRUCTOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, INVERT SUGAR, WHEY, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, SALT, CELLULOSE, NATURAL FLAVOR, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, VITAMIN AND MINERAL BLEND (SALT, NIACINAMIDE, REDUCED IRON, ZINC OXIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN B₁ (THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAMIN B6 PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN]), WHEAT BRAN, MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, SOY LECITHIN, WHEAT GLUTEN, CARRAGEENAN, GUAR GUM, INVERT SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, BLUEBERRY PUREE CONCENTRATE, VEC TABLE GLYCERIN, SUGAR, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SODIUM ALGINATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR, METHYLCELLULOSE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, MALIC ACID, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE. _WHEAT, MILK AND SOY_

84%

35%

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