Is it legal for a protein bar...

glassyo
glassyo Posts: 7,757 Member
edited November 23 in Food and Nutrition
to be called a protein bar if it only has 6 grams of protein in 240 calories?

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    Marketing!
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Hm.... I def just had a bar that wasn't advertised as a protein bar with 170 cals and 11 grams of protein.

    I'd wager to say that as long as there is at least a GRAM of protein, they can market it as a protein bar.
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    Wouldn't all of that fall under misleading advertising?
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    That reminds me of something funny. I was at Walmart looking for a box of instant oatmeal, when I saw that Quaker had some new products out.

    They had new "High Fiber" and "High Protein" flavoured oatmeal packs.

    I compared the backs and...

    "High Fiber" had 4g of fiber, 3g of protein.

    "High Protein" had 6g of fiber, 6g of protein.

    :/
  • Tiifu
    Tiifu Posts: 8 Member
    I eat the high fiber Quaker oatmeal... It has 10 grams of fiber. Are you sure you were looking at the right thing?
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    A lot of energy bars are incorrectly called protein bars. It is important to always look at nutrition facts before buying.
  • PixelPuff
    PixelPuff Posts: 902 Member
    There are protein bars that are just as bad as candy bars.

    Always check labels. Marketing & advertising make me sad.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    ladyreva78 wrote: »
    Wouldn't all of that fall under misleading advertising?

    Nope. "Protein bar" doesn't mean anything. It doesn't claim to be high or low in protein. It's a fairly meaningless description.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Tiifu wrote: »
    I eat the high fiber Quaker oatmeal... It has 10 grams of fiber. Are you sure you were looking at the right thing?

    https://www.quakeroats.ca/products/quaker®-high-protein-maple-brown-sugar-flavour-instant-oatmeal

    Shows as 6 grams. Maybe a difference between the US and Canada, but it definitely tastes worse and isn't worth the 3 grams of protein in my opinion.
  • vm007
    vm007 Posts: 241 Member
    wow low I just went through this today. I was looking around for something to eat because my protein shake had turned bad (left it outside in heat) ....went through so many bars before I found one with 20g of protein with 200 cals.

    I'm a happy man...all gains were kept.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    Under FDA regulations, "good source" or "contains" are used for foods that contain between 10-19% of the daily value for that nutrient, and "excellent source" for those that are 20% or higher.

    For protein, that's only 5g for "good source" and 10g for "excellent source" since the "daily value" is 50g for a 2000 calorie diet.

    So anything with at least 5g of protein can advertise the protein in some manner.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Hey nice to see you posting again @rankinsect. Hope all is well, and another great trip is being planned

    Cheers, h.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    vm007 wrote: »
    ....went through so many bars before I found one with 20g of protein with 200 cals.

    This is why I always buy Pure Protein bars at Costco, which are truly "high protein."

    Each bar gives you 20-21g of protein in 180-200 cals and a box of 21 bar only costs $14. That's only 67¢ per bar.

    There's nothing better than that!
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,757 Member
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    vm007 wrote: »
    ....went through so many bars before I found one with 20g of protein with 200 cals.

    This is why I always buy Pure Protein bars at Costco, which are truly "high protein."

    Each bar gives you 20-21g of protein in 180-200 cals and a box of 21 bar only costs $14. That's only 67¢ per bar.

    There's nothing better than that!

    Yup but it was Quest that raised my high protein bar standards. I do let Power Crunch bars slide with their 13 g of protein in 200 calories, tho, since they're just so gosh darned tasty.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    Each bar gives you 20-21g of protein in 180-200 cals and a box of 21 bar only costs $14. That's only 67¢

    Correction: A box of 21 Pure Protein bars at Costco costs $19 or about 90¢ a bar which is 3 to 4x's less than other bars, many of which contain less protein and more calories.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Yeah I don't have the same notion of what 'high protein' is than a lot of people. Heck, people still think that nuts are a good source of protein...
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,645 Member
    When we hired a new part-timer at the fitness center...

    Him: "So do we sell protein bars? That would actually be really convenient for me."

    Me: "No, but the employee store sells [grits teeth] Special K protein bars... You might just want to keep your own stash in your locker."
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,757 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Yeah I don't have the same notion of what 'high protein' is than a lot of people. Heck, people still think that nuts are a good source of protein...

    I may get a little intense when it comes to the protein thing. I would frequently lowkey get on my coworker about eating more protein and once she said she was having an avocado and that's a good protein source. I just looked at her and made her google the nutritional info to explain and prove it was more a source of (good) fat and to eat some fricken' chicken or salmon. :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    ladyreva78 wrote: »
    Wouldn't all of that fall under misleading advertising?

    Nope...that would only be an issue if it didn't have any protein. Protein is very trendy at the moment, so there are many things for which "PROTEIN" is being slapped on the label or packaging regardless of whether it is really a great source of protein or not.
    rankinsect wrote: »
    Under FDA regulations, "good source" or "contains" are used for foods that contain between 10-19% of the daily value for that nutrient, and "excellent source" for those that are 20% or higher.

    For protein, that's only 5g for "good source" and 10g for "excellent source" since the "daily value" is 50g for a 2000 calorie diet.

    So anything with at least 5g of protein can advertise the protein in some manner.

    And this ^^^^
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