Nutrition Bars Exceed Fat Guidelines, Study of 325 Products Finds

Many nutrition bar products sold in South Korea exceed recommended fat intake levels with just a single serving, according to a new study published in the Korean Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers analyzed 325 products marketed as "nutrition bars," "energy bars," and "protein bars" as of February last year, examining mandatory nutritional components including calories, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium per serving.

The analysis found that a single serving of nutrition bars provides an average of 9.6% of daily energy requirements, 6.7% of carbohydrates, 16.8% of protein, and 16.9% of fat based on daily reference values.

Fat content emerged as the primary concern. The energy contribution from fat reached 42.5%, significantly exceeding the recommended range of 15-30% under Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. The nutrient density index for fat was 1.8, surpassing the baseline of 1.0, while saturated fat registered at 1.9.

Sugar's energy contribution was 19.5%, approaching the upper limit of the recommended 10-20% range. Protein's energy contribution was 19.3%, near the upper bound of the appropriate 7-20% range, with a nutrient density index of 1.7.

The researchers noted that nutrition bars adequately serve their intended function of protein supplementation compared to regular snacks. Nutrient density indices for sugars, sodium, and cholesterol were all below 1.0, indicating acceptable levels.

However, the study cautioned that consuming more than one serving or combining nutrition bars with other meals could result in excessive total intake.

"When replacing real food with nutrition bars for energy and protein, there are concerns about obesity and diabetes from nutritional excess," said Lee Eun-jung, professor of endocrinology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. "There's also risk from excessive intake of artificial sweeteners and chemical additives in ultra-processed foods."

Lee added that recent global guidelines, including the updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines, commonly recommend eating "real food" instead of ultra-processed products, advising against over-reliance on nutrition bars for protein intake.