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

The bar is built from refined protein isolates, isolated fibers, sweeteners and several food‑grade chemicals. Its additive list includes erythritol (E968), steviol glycoside/stevia (E960), calcium carbonate (E170i), sunflower lecithin (E322) and processed cocoa, all of which are typical of ultra‑processed products, leading to a NOVA 4 rating.

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

With 3.3 g of sugar and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g, the bar is low in both sugar and sodium compared with most snack bars, making it a relatively safe choice for diabetics and people monitoring blood pressure, though the added sugars and total carbohydrate load still require portion control.

Based on the ingredients, is this product suitable for strict diets like Vegan, Keto, Halal, or Gluten‑Free?

The bar is not vegan because it contains milk protein isolate and whey, and it is not suitable for nut‑allergy diets due to cashew butter. It is gluten‑free according to the label, low‑carb enough for a keto approach, and contains dairy, so it may not meet Halal standards that forbid certain animal derivatives.

Kirkland • 60 g

Protein Bar Cookies and Cream

Dietary Supplements

Product Insights

Protein Bar Cookies and Cream is a 60 g high‑protein snack marketed by Kirkland and sold at Costco. It belongs to the protein‑rich snack family, carries a NOVA 4 ultra‑processed classification and no Nutri‑Score (category dietary supplements), delivering 22 g protein, 6.7 g fat and 3.3 g sugar per 100 g, with added erythritol, stevia, calcium carbonate and other additives; it also contains milk, nuts and coconut allergens. While the bar offers low sugar and high fiber compared with typical protein bars, its ultra‑processed nature and presence of several additives may be a concern for clean‑eating consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal283 kcal

Added Sugars3.3 g

Iron3 mg

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average protein‑bar category, this product provides far lower sugar (3.3 g vs 13.4 g), substantially less fat (6.7 g vs 17.0 g) and saturated fat (2.5 g vs 7.2 g), markedly lower salt (0.71 g vs 5.55 g), while delivering higher protein (36.7 g vs 29.5 g) and more fiber (18.3 g vs 11.4 g) per 100 g.

Ingredients

protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate), dietary fiber from tapioca starch, cashew butter, erythritol, natural flavors, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), coconut oil, sea salt, whey protein concentrate, steviol glycoside (stevia), tapioca starch, calcium carbonate, sunflower lecithin

84%

35%

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