Ingredient Reference

Protein Bar Ingredient Encyclopedia

Every ingredient we found across 1,000+ protein bars. Scored, explained, and ranked by how many bars it appears in. Use it to read any label.

369ingredients catalogued
1,000+bars analyzed
17ingredient categories
+4 Best
+3 Clean
+2 Good
+1 Okay
0 Neutral
-1 Minor concern
-2 Concern
-3 Avoid
-4 Worst

Protein Sources

37 ingredients

The backbone of every protein bar. Quality varies enormously — from high-scoring whey isolate to collagen protein that adds almost nothing nutritionally.

+4
whey protein isolate
High-quality complete protein source
182 bars
18.2%
+3
soy protein isolate
Plant protein source
137 bars
13.7%
+3
whey protein concentrate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
126 bars
12.6%
+2
pea protein
Plant protein source
97 bars
9.7%
+3
milk protein isolate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
90 bars
9.0%
+2
brown rice protein
Plant protein source
67 bars
6.7%
+3
calcium caseinate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
65 bars
6.5%
+3
sodium caseinate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
40 bars
4.0%
+3
milk protein concentrate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
35 bars
3.5%
+2
nonfat dry milk
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
34 bars
3.4%
+2
soy protein
Plant protein source
30 bars
3.0%
+2
whey
Whey-derived ingredient
30 bars
3.0%
+2
rice protein
Plant protein source
29 bars
2.9%
+2
pumpkin seed protein
Plant protein source
26 bars
2.6%
+2
nonfat milk
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
25 bars
2.5%
+1
collagen
Protein source but incomplete amino acid profile
25 bars
2.5%
+1
hydrolyzed collagen
Protein source but incomplete amino acid profile
23 bars
2.3%
+3
yogurt powder
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
22 bars
2.2%
+1
bovine
Protein source but incomplete amino acid profile
19 bars
1.9%
+2
skim milk powder
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+1
bovine collagen hydrolysate
Protein source but incomplete amino acid profile
18 bars
1.8%
+2
dry whole milk
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+2
dried whole egg powder
Egg-derived ingredient
16 bars
1.6%
+2
skim milk
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
15 bars
1.5%
+4
egg whites
High-quality complete protein source
13 bars
1.3%
+4
egg white
High-quality complete protein source
12 bars
1.2%
+3
hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
11 bars
1.1%
+4
partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate
High-quality complete protein source
11 bars
1.1%
-1
hydrolyzed gelatin
Hydrolyzed gelatin — incomplete protein, collagen-based
10 bars
1.0%
+2
hemp protein
Plant protein source
9 bars
0.9%
+3
micellar casein isolate
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
+2
almond protein
Almond protein — plant protein, good amino profile
6 bars
0.6%
+2
fava protein
Plant protein source
6 bars
0.6%
+3
non-gmo soy protein isolate
Plant protein source
6 bars
0.6%
+2
nonfat milk powder
Dairy protein or dairy-derived ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+1
hydrolyzed bovine collagen
Protein source but incomplete amino acid profile
5 bars
0.5%
+2
wheat protein isolate
Wheat protein isolate — plant protein source
5 bars
0.5%

Sweeteners

44 ingredients

The most consequential category. Sweeteners determine a bar's score more than anything else. Added sugars, sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, and low-calorie alternatives all score differently.

-2
sugar
Added caloric sweetener
158 bars
15.8%
-2
cane sugar
Added caloric sweetener
142 bars
14.2%
-2
sucralose
Artificial sweetener
131 bars
13.1%
-4
maltitol
Sugar alcohol sweetener
112 bars
11.2%
-3
tapioca syrup
Added caloric sweetener
90 bars
9.0%
-3
brown rice syrup
Added caloric sweetener
84 bars
8.4%
-2
honey
Added caloric sweetener
73 bars
7.3%
-2
polydextrose
Added caloric sweetener
70 bars
7.0%
+1
stevia
Low-calorie sweetener
64 bars
6.4%
-4
maltitol syrup
Sugar alcohol sweetener
54 bars
5.4%
+1
monk fruit
Low-calorie sweetener
48 bars
4.8%
-3
erythritol
Sugar alcohol sweetener
40 bars
4.0%
-3
isomalto-oligosaccharides
Sugar alcohol sweetener
39 bars
3.9%
0
allulose
Low-calorie sweetener
29 bars
2.9%
-3
cane syrup
Added caloric sweetener
23 bars
2.3%
-3
sorbitol
Sugar alcohol sweetener
23 bars
2.3%
-2
coconut sugar
Added caloric sweetener
20 bars
2.0%
-3
agave syrup
Added caloric sweetener
20 bars
2.0%
-3
rice syrup
Added caloric sweetener
19 bars
1.9%
-2
dextrose
Added caloric sweetener
18 bars
1.8%
-3
chicory fiber syrup
Added caloric sweetener
18 bars
1.8%
-3
glucose syrup
Added caloric sweetener
16 bars
1.6%
-2
brown sugar
Added caloric sweetener
15 bars
1.5%
-3
barley malt extract
Added caloric sweetener
15 bars
1.5%
-3
corn syrup
Added caloric sweetener
14 bars
1.4%
-3
maple syrup
Added caloric sweetener
13 bars
1.3%
-1
apple juice concentrate
Apple juice concentrate — concentrated sugar
12 bars
1.2%
-3
acesulfame potassium
Artificial sweetener
12 bars
1.2%
-2
agave nectar
Added caloric sweetener
12 bars
1.2%
-2
cultured dextrose
Added caloric sweetener
12 bars
1.2%
-2
molasses
Added caloric sweetener
11 bars
1.1%
-2
maple sugar
Added caloric sweetener
9 bars
0.9%
-2
agave
Added caloric sweetener
7 bars
0.7%
-3
invert cane syrup
Added caloric sweetener
7 bars
0.7%
+1
powdered dates
Powdered dates — whole food sweetener, contains fiber
7 bars
0.7%
-2
oligofructose
Added caloric sweetener
6 bars
0.6%
-3
xylitol
Sugar alcohol sweetener
6 bars
0.6%
-1
apple puree concentrate
Apple puree concentrate — concentrated sugar
5 bars
0.5%
-1
fruit juices
Fruit juices — concentrated sugars from fruit
5 bars
0.5%
-2
molasses and monoglycerides
Added caloric sweetener
5 bars
0.5%
0
monk fruit concentrate
Monk fruit concentrate — natural zero-calorie sweetener, neutral
5 bars
0.5%
-3
prebiotic tapioca syrup
Added caloric sweetener
5 bars
0.5%
-3
rice syrup and grape juice concentrate
Added caloric sweetener
5 bars
0.5%
0
stevia leaf reb m
Stevia Reb M — natural sweetener, neutral
5 bars
0.5%

Whole Foods

70 ingredients

Nuts, seeds, oats, dates, fruits — ingredients that look the same on a label as they do in nature. Generally the best signals in any bar.

+3
almonds
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
127 bars
12.7%
+3
peanuts
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
117 bars
11.7%
+3
oats
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
88 bars
8.8%
+3
peanut butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
87 bars
8.7%
+1
vanilla extract
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
67 bars
6.7%
+3
almond butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
60 bars
6.0%
+3
dates
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
52 bars
5.2%
+3
flaxseed
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
39 bars
3.9%
+1
cinnamon
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
38 bars
3.8%
+2
cashews
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
33 bars
3.3%
+2
brown rice
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
33 bars
3.3%
+2
soybeans
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
32 bars
3.2%
+2
coconut
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
29 bars
2.9%
+1
spinach
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
26 bars
2.6%
+2
chia seeds
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
25 bars
2.5%
+3
sunflower seed butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
23 bars
2.3%
+3
cashew butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
22 bars
2.2%
+2
hemp hearts
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
22 bars
2.2%
+2
papaya
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
22 bars
2.2%
+2
sunflower seeds
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
22 bars
2.2%
+2
lemon
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
21 bars
2.1%
+2
orange
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
21 bars
2.1%
+2
apple
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
20 bars
2.0%
+1
alfalfa
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+2
carrot
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+2
celery
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+1
kale
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+2
dulse
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+2
kelp
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+2
tomato
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
+1
vanilla
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+2
golden flaxseed
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+2
quinoa flakes
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+2
rose hip
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+1
vanilla powder
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+2
puffed brown rice
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
17 bars
1.7%
+2
dried sweet potato
Dried sweet potato — whole food, complex carbs + micronutrients
15 bars
1.5%
+3
natural peanut butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
14 bars
1.4%
+2
pumpkin seeds
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
14 bars
1.4%
+2
apples
Apples — whole fruit, fiber and micronutrients
13 bars
1.3%
+2
whole milk powder
Whole milk powder — whole food dairy
11 bars
1.1%
+1
blueberries
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
10 bars
1.0%
+3
almond and peanut
Almonds and peanuts — whole food nut combination, protein + healthy fats
9 bars
0.9%
+2
millet
Millet — whole grain, gluten-free, good mineral content
8 bars
0.8%
+1
natural vanilla
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
+3
quinoa
Quinoa — complete protein whole grain, excellent nutrition
8 bars
0.8%
+1
raisins
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
+2
macadamia nuts
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
7 bars
0.7%
+2
sorghum
Sorghum — whole grain, gluten-free, rich in antioxidants
7 bars
0.7%
+2
walnuts
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
7 bars
0.7%
+1
dried blueberries
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+3
almond pieces
Almond pieces — whole food nuts
6 bars
0.6%
+1
garlic powder
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+3
flax
Flaxseeds — whole food, excellent omega-3 and fiber
6 bars
0.6%
+1
raspberries
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+2
sunflower
Sunflower seeds — whole food seeds
6 bars
0.6%
+1
milk solids
Milk solids — dairy whole food
5 bars
0.5%
+2
cranberries
Cranberries — whole fruit, antioxidants
5 bars
0.5%
+2
blueberry puree
Blueberry puree — minimally processed whole fruit
5 bars
0.5%
+1
coconut flakes
Whole-food-derived flavor or botanical ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
+3
gluten free oats
Gluten-free oats — whole grain, excellent nutrition
5 bars
0.5%
+2
kamut khorasan wheat
Kamut — ancient whole grain wheat, high in protein and selenium
5 bars
0.5%
+2
plums
Plums — whole fruit, fiber + micronutrients
5 bars
0.5%
+3
natural almond butter
Whole-food-derived nut or seed butter
5 bars
0.5%
+3
peanut and almond
Peanuts and almonds — whole food nut combination
5 bars
0.5%
+2
pecans
Whole or minimally processed food ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
+2
wheat bran
Wheat bran — excellent fiber source
5 bars
0.5%
+2
unsweetened coconut
Unsweetened coconut — whole food, natural fat
5 bars
0.5%
+3
whole rolled oats
Whole rolled oats — whole grain, beta-glucan fiber
5 bars
0.5%
+2
cherries
Cherries — whole fruit, antioxidants + natural sugars
4 bars
0.4%

Fats & Oils

33 ingredients

Cocoa butter is neutral to good. Seed oils are minor concerns. Palm kernel oil — the most common processed fat in bar coatings — is a hard negative.

+1
cocoa butter
Fat from cocoa; relatively neutral in this framework
226 bars
22.6%
-3
palm kernel oil
Highly processed fat source
143 bars
14.3%
-1
sunflower oil
Oil ingredient
113 bars
11.3%
0
coconut oil
Oil ingredient; treated as neutral in this first-pass model
66 bars
6.6%
-2
palm oil
Oil ingredient
60 bars
6.0%
-1
canola oil
Oil ingredient
36 bars
3.6%
-1
soybean oil
Oil ingredient
32 bars
3.2%
-1
sunflower and/or soybean oil
Oil ingredient
27 bars
2.7%
0
peanut oil
Oil ingredient; treated as neutral in this first-pass model
21 bars
2.1%
-1
flax seed oil
Oil ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
0
olive oil
Oil ingredient; treated as neutral in this first-pass model
19 bars
1.9%
-1
sesame seed oil
Oil ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
-1
pumpkin seed oil
Oil ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
-3
palm kernel solids
Palm kernel derivative — highly saturated, industrial processing
15 bars
1.5%
-3
palm and palm kernel oil
Highly processed fat source
14 bars
1.4%
-2
palm kernel and palm oil
Oil ingredient
13 bars
1.3%
+2
butter
Butter — whole food dairy fat, natural
12 bars
1.2%
-3
palm kernel and palm
Palm kernel and palm oil blend — highly processed saturated fat
12 bars
1.2%
+1
cream
Cream — whole food dairy fat
11 bars
1.1%
-3
palm kernel
Palm kernel oil — highly saturated, linked to deforestation
10 bars
1.0%
-2
palm
Palm oil — highly processed saturated fat
9 bars
0.9%
0
anhydrous milk fat
Anhydrous milk fat — dairy fat, neutral
8 bars
0.8%
-2
fractionated palm kernel and palm oil
Oil ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
-3
fractionated palm and palm kernel oil
Highly processed fat source
6 bars
0.6%
0
medium chain triglycerides
MCT oil — functional fat
6 bars
0.6%
-3
fractionated palm kernel oil
Highly processed fat source
5 bars
0.5%
-2
cottonseed
Cottonseed oil — highly processed
5 bars
0.5%
-1
high oleic sunflower and/or soybean oil
Oil ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
0
illipe butter
Illipe butter — tropical fat substitute
5 bars
0.5%
0
milk fat
Milk fat — dairy fat, neutral
5 bars
0.5%
-1
rapeseed
Rapeseed oil — processed industrial oil
5 bars
0.5%
-2
rspo palm oil
Oil ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
-1
safflower oil
Oil ingredient
5 bars
0.5%

Cocoa & Chocolate

12 ingredients

Cocoa and chocolate variants score well when unsweetened. "Chocolate coating" or sweetened chocolate chips are compound ingredients with their own sub-ingredient scores.

+2
cocoa
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
160 bars
16.0%
+2
unsweetened chocolate
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
147 bars
14.7%
+2
cocoa processed with alkali
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
54 bars
5.4%
0
chocolate liquor
Chocolate ingredient; often a compound ingredient
42 bars
4.2%
0
chocolate
Chocolate ingredient; often a compound ingredient
37 bars
3.7%
+2
alkalized cocoa
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
29 bars
2.9%
+2
cocoa extract
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
13 bars
1.3%
+2
alkalized cocoa powder
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
12 bars
1.2%
+2
cocoa mass
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
+2
fat-reduced cocoa powder
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
+2
cacao nibs
Cacao nibs — minimally processed, antioxidant-rich
7 bars
0.7%
+2
fairly traded cocoa powder
Cocoa or unsweetened chocolate ingredient
5 bars
0.5%

Fibers & Functional Carbs

13 ingredients

Added fibers and functional carbohydrates. Chicory root and tapioca fiber are common; IMO (isomalto-oligosaccharides) masqueraded as fiber until the FDA reclassified it.

+1
tapioca fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
73 bars
7.3%
0
soluble corn fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
60 bars
6.0%
+1
inulin
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
34 bars
3.4%
-1
maltodextrin
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
31 bars
3.1%
+1
prebiotic fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
22 bars
2.2%
0
imo
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
18 bars
1.8%
+1
chicory root fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
17 bars
1.7%
+1
vegetable fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
16 bars
1.6%
+1
chicory fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
13 bars
1.3%
+1
soy fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+1
tapioca fiber and cassava blend
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
+1
prebiotic tapioca fiber
Added functional fiber or carbohydrate ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
+1
psyllium
Psyllium — excellent soluble fiber
5 bars
0.5%

Starches & Flours

21 ingredients

Mostly neutral texture and binding agents. None are clean signals, but none are red flags either.

0
tapioca starch
Starch or flour ingredient
145 bars
14.5%
0
rice flour
Starch or flour ingredient
73 bars
7.3%
0
peanut flour
Starch or flour ingredient
44 bars
4.4%
0
rice starch
Starch or flour ingredient
43 bars
4.3%
0
soy flour
Starch or flour ingredient
36 bars
3.6%
0
partially defatted peanut flour
Starch or flour ingredient
21 bars
2.1%
0
corn starch
Starch or flour ingredient
16 bars
1.6%
0
rice extract
Rice extract — neutral
15 bars
1.5%
+1
brown rice crisp
Brown rice crisp — whole grain puffed cereal, light texture
14 bars
1.4%
0
brown rice flour
Starch or flour ingredient
12 bars
1.2%
-1
tapioca
Tapioca — highly refined starch
12 bars
1.2%
0
oat flour
Starch or flour ingredient
11 bars
1.1%
+2
quinoa crisps
Quinoa crisps — puffed quinoa, good whole grain
7 bars
0.7%
0
soybean
Soybean — neutral, context-dependent
7 bars
0.7%
0
cornstarch
Starch or flour ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
0
wheat flour
Starch or flour ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
0
whole wheat flour
Starch or flour ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
0
almond flour
Starch or flour ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
0
non-gmo corn
Non-GMO corn — neutral
5 bars
0.5%
0
rice
Rice — neutral refined grain
5 bars
0.5%
-1
rice dextrins
Rice dextrin — processed filler
5 bars
0.5%

Additives

19 ingredients

Humectants, stabilizers, and anti-caking agents. Glycerin is the most prevalent — it's in nearly 1 in 3 bars to maintain chewiness.

-1
glycerin
Humectant often used for texture and shelf stability
307 bars
30.7%
0
baking soda
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
48 bars
4.8%
-1
xanthan gum
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
43 bars
4.3%
0
mixed tocopherols
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
26 bars
2.6%
-1
acacia gum
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
23 bars
2.3%
-1
silicon dioxide
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
23 bars
2.3%
-1
acetylated monoglycerides
Synthetic emulsifier
14 bars
1.4%
-2
epg
Synthetic fat replacer
12 bars
1.2%
0
pectin
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
11 bars
1.1%
-1
emulsifier
Generic emulsifier
10 bars
1.0%
-1
carrageenan
Carrageenan — gut inflammation concern
8 bars
0.8%
-1
cellulose gum
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
-1
disodium phosphate
Disodium phosphate — synthetic emulsifier/stabilizer
8 bars
0.8%
0
sodium bicarbonate
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
0
baking powder
Baking powder — leavening, neutral
7 bars
0.7%
0
carnauba wax
Carnauba wax — natural plant coating
7 bars
0.7%
0
agar-agar
Agar — natural seaweed thickener
6 bars
0.6%
-1
gum arabic
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
6 bars
0.6%
-1
guar gum
Stabilizer, anti-caking, antioxidant, or leavening ingredient
5 bars
0.5%

Emulsifiers

7 ingredients

Keeps ingredients from separating. Soy and sunflower lecithin are standard and score neutral. Mono and diglycerides score slightly negative.

0
soy lecithin
Emulsifier ingredient
186 bars
18.6%
0
sunflower lecithin
Emulsifier ingredient
154 bars
15.4%
0
lecithin
Emulsifier ingredient
37 bars
3.7%
0
sunflower and/or soy lecithin
Emulsifier ingredient
28 bars
2.8%
-1
mono and diglycerides
Emulsifier ingredient
27 bars
2.7%
-1
an emulsifier
Emulsifier ingredient
23 bars
2.3%
-1
propylene glycol mono esters
Emulsifier ingredient
21 bars
2.1%

Flavorings

8 ingredients

Natural flavors are the second most common ingredient in the database and score as a minor concern. "Natural and artificial flavors" scores worse.

-1
natural flavors
Flavoring ingredient
342 bars
34.2%
-2
natural and artificial flavors
Flavoring ingredient
40 bars
4.0%
0
peppermint oil
Peppermint oil — natural essential oil flavor
10 bars
1.0%
-2
artificial and natural flavors
Flavoring ingredient
9 bars
0.9%
-2
artificial flavors
Flavoring ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
0
peanut extract
Peanut extract — natural flavoring
8 bars
0.8%
0
lemon oil
Lemon oil — natural essential oil flavor
5 bars
0.5%
-1
with other natural flavors
Flavoring ingredient
5 bars
0.5%

Seasonings

3 ingredients

Salt appears in nearly half of all bars. It is neutral by itself — but its position in the ingredient list matters.

0
salt
Seasoning ingredient
464 bars
46.4%
0
black pepper
Black pepper — natural spice, neutral
6 bars
0.6%
0
onion powder
Onion powder — natural spice, neutral
6 bars
0.6%

Vitamins & Minerals

13 ingredients

Fortification additions. Vitamin E (tocopherols) doubles as a natural preservative. All score neutral; their presence doesn't meaningfully help or hurt a bar's score.

0
vitamin e
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
40 bars
4.0%
0
vitamin a palmitate
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
34 bars
3.4%
0
calcium carbonate
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
32 bars
3.2%
0
beta-carotene
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
21 bars
2.1%
0
vitamin b12
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
19 bars
1.9%
0
vitamin b1
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
10 bars
1.0%
0
vitamin d3
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
10 bars
1.0%
0
vitamin b2
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
9 bars
0.9%
0
vitamin b3
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
9 bars
0.9%
0
vitamin b6
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
9 bars
0.9%
0
vitamin c
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
8 bars
0.8%
0
seaweed-derived calcium
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
7 bars
0.7%
0
mixed tocopherols (vitamin e) for freshness
Vitamin, mineral, or micronutrient fortification ingredient
6 bars
0.6%

Acids & Preservatives

11 ingredients

Citric acid and potassium sorbate are the most common entries. Citric acid is a minor concern; potassium sorbate scores as a full concern.

-1
citric acid
Acidulant or preservative-adjacent ingredient
46 bars
4.6%
-2
potassium sorbate
Preservative or coating additive
28 bars
2.8%
0
natural tocopherols
Natural tocopherols (vitamin E) — natural preservative, neutral
14 bars
1.4%
0
rosemary extract
Rosemary extract — natural antioxidant preservative
13 bars
1.3%
0
tocopherols added to protect flavor
Tocopherols — natural preservative, neutral
11 bars
1.1%
0
cultured celery powder
Natural nitrate source, neutral
10 bars
1.0%
-1
encapsulated lactic acid
Acidulant or preservative-adjacent ingredient
10 bars
1.0%
0
tocopherols
Tocopherols (vitamin E) — natural antioxidant preservative
9 bars
0.9%
-1
lactic acid
Acidulant or preservative-adjacent ingredient
7 bars
0.7%
-1
confectioners glaze
Preservative or coating additive
6 bars
0.6%
0
lemon juice concentrate
Lemon juice concentrate — natural acidulant, neutral
5 bars
0.5%

Color Additives

12 ingredients

Titanium dioxide is the most prevalent color additive and scores negative. Most color additives add nothing nutritionally.

-1
titanium dioxide
Color additive or coloring ingredient
20 bars
2.0%
-1
blue 1
Blue 1 — synthetic petroleum-based food dye
8 bars
0.8%
-1
red 40 lake
Red 40 lake — synthetic petroleum-based food dye
8 bars
0.8%
-1
caramel
Caramel color — processed
7 bars
0.7%
-1
yellow 6
Yellow 6 — synthetic petroleum-based food dye
6 bars
0.6%
0
annatto
Color additive or coloring ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
-1
blue 1 lake
Blue 1 lake — synthetic food dye
5 bars
0.5%
0
color added
Color additive or coloring ingredient
5 bars
0.5%
0
fruit and vegetable juice
Fruit/vegetable juice for color — natural, neutral
5 bars
0.5%
-1
red 40
Red 40 — synthetic petroleum-based food dye
5 bars
0.5%
-1
yellow 5
Yellow 5 (tartrazine) — synthetic food dye, linked to hyperactivity
5 bars
0.5%
-1
yellow 5 lake
Yellow 5 lake — synthetic food dye
5 bars
0.5%

Botanicals & Functional

6 ingredients

Adaptogens and functional add-ins like ashwagandha, lion's mane, and citicoline. Small amounts; score neutral to slightly positive.

+1
lions mane
Botanical or functional add-in
24 bars
2.4%
+1
as cognizin
Cognizin (citicoline) — branded cognitive supplement
10 bars
1.0%
+1
as ksm-66
KSM-66 (ashwagandha extract) — adaptogen supplement
10 bars
1.0%
+1
chaga mushroom extract
Botanical or functional add-in
7 bars
0.7%
+1
lions mane mushroom extract
Botanical or functional add-in
7 bars
0.7%
+1
b coagulans
B. coagulans — probiotic strain
6 bars
0.6%

Other Foods

4 ingredients

Water, milk, and soy — basic food components that score neutral.

0
water
Basic food ingredient or allergen ingredient
167 bars
16.7%
0
milk
Basic food ingredient or allergen ingredient
71 bars
7.1%
0
soy
Basic food ingredient or allergen ingredient
26 bars
2.6%
0
almond
Basic food ingredient or allergen ingredient
6 bars
0.6%

Compound Ingredients

56 ingredients

Compound ingredient groups where child ingredients are scored instead of the parent label. "Protein blend" and "chocolate chips" are common examples.

0
protein blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
182 bars
18.2%
0
dark chocolate
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
44 bars
4.4%
0
chocolate chips
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
42 bars
4.2%
0
gelatin
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
36 bars
3.6%
0
vegetable oils
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
23 bars
2.3%
0
vegetable oil
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
23 bars
2.3%
0
soy crisp
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
22 bars
2.2%
0
milk protein blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
21 bars
2.1%
0
pea protein crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
21 bars
2.1%
0
sugars
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
19 bars
1.9%
0
dried whole food powders
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
19 bars
1.9%
0
ascorbic acid
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
15 bars
1.5%
0
hydrolyzed whey protein isolate
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
15 bars
1.5%
0
riboflavin
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
15 bars
1.5%
0
brown rice crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
14 bars
1.4%
0
soy rice crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
14 bars
1.4%
0
semisweet chocolate chips
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
13 bars
1.3%
0
fat system
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
12 bars
1.2%
0
modified plant fat
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
12 bars
1.2%
0
protein system
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
12 bars
1.2%
0
cyanocobalamin
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
11 bars
1.1%
0
niacinamide
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
11 bars
1.1%
0
soy protein crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
11 bars
1.1%
0
turmeric
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
11 bars
1.1%
0
ashwagandha
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
brain blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
citicoline
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
flavor system
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
prebiotic blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
pyridoxine hydrochloride
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
sunflower butter
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
thiamine mononitrate
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
yogurt topping
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
10 bars
1.0%
0
premium collagen protein blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
9 bars
0.9%
0
protein grain blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
9 bars
0.9%
0
alpha-tocopherol acetate
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
binding system
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
chocolate topping
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
fiber blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
milk chocolate
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
sweetener blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
vitamin blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
8 bars
0.8%
0
pea crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
7 bars
0.7%
0
whey crisps
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
7 bars
0.7%
0
beta carotene
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
6 bars
0.6%
0
crispy brown rice
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
6 bars
0.6%
0
dark chocolate chips
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
6 bars
0.6%
0
probiotic
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
6 bars
0.6%
0
tapioca blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
6 bars
0.6%
0
antioxidants
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
beet powder
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
chocolate flavored coating
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
contains 2% or less of lecithin
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
includes annatto and turmeric
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
spirulina extract
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
0
sunflower oil blend
Compound ingredient or blend; score child ingredients instead of parent phrase
5 bars
0.5%
Know Your Bar

Find bars without the ingredients you want to avoid

Filter all 1,000+ bars by ingredient quality grade, sweeteners, sugar alcohols, seed oils, and more. Every bar scored A-F. No sponsored picks.

Browse all bars How we score Ingredient patterns report
Explore more
What's really in protein bars
Patterns, surprises, and the 10 best and worst ingredients across 1,000 bars.
How we score ingredients
The full methodology behind every score in this encyclopedia.
Clean protein bars
The bars with the fewest red-flag ingredients, ranked by score.

Frequently asked questions

This encyclopedia covers 369 ingredients that each appear in 5 or more bars across our database of 1,000+ protein bars. There are over 1,000 unique canonical ingredients in our full schema, but we cut off at 5 appearances to keep the reference meaningful rather than exhaustive.
The bar represents what percentage of the 1,000+ bars in our database contain that ingredient. Salt, for example, appears in about 46% of bars. Maltitol appears in about 11%. The percentage is out of 1,000 total bars, not just the category total.
Scores run from -4 (worst) to +4 (best). A score of 0 is neutral. Positive scores indicate beneficial or clean ingredients. Negative scores indicate ingredients that drag down a bar's overall grade. The scores reflect ingredient quality in the context of a protein bar, not an absolute health judgment.
Natural flavors is a broad regulatory category that can include hundreds of substances. The term reveals nothing about what specific compounds are present. We score it as -1 because it adds no nutritional value and provides no transparency about what you are actually consuming. It is not a major concern, but it is not a positive signal either.
Maltitol has a glycemic index around 35 — significantly higher than erythritol, which is close to zero. Maltitol also causes more GI distress than most sugar alcohols. Erythritol is largely absorbed before it reaches the colon and has a far lower impact on blood sugar. Both are sugar alcohols, but they behave very differently in the body.
Glycerin is a humectant used to keep bars soft and extend shelf life. It has a mild sweetness and a small caloric impact. We score it at -1 because it is a processing additive with no nutritional benefit, but it is not a red flag ingredient. Its appearance in nearly 1 in 3 bars reflects how central it is to the texture and shelf stability of the modern protein bar.
Palm kernel oil is the fat of choice for chocolate-style coatings because it creates a firm snap at room temperature without refrigeration. It appears in 143 bars — almost always inside a compound ingredient like "dark chocolate coating" or "chocolate flavored coating" rather than listed directly. That is why consumers rarely notice it. It scores -3 because it is a highly saturated, industrially processed fat with environmental concerns around sourcing.
Scores reflect completeness of amino acid profile and processing level. Whey protein isolate and egg whites score +4 because they are complete proteins with excellent bioavailability and minimal processing. Collagen protein scores +1 because while it is technically protein, it lacks tryptophan and is not a complete protein source. Pea and brown rice protein score +2 as clean plant sources that, when combined, provide a complete amino acid profile.