Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars Chocolate Caramel 1.59oz

95
Safe
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars Chocolate Caramel 1.59oz receives a safety score of 95/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0038000000553
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 Bar (45 g)

What the Data Says About

Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars Chocolate Caramel 1.59oz carries a composite safety score of 95/100, which we classify as "Safe" on our four-tier shelf-label framework. The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Our scan identified 1 flagged ingredient in this product — components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars Chocolate Caramel 1.59oz is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone. The Nutri-Score grade of E reflects nutritional balance — calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content — which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Kellogg's Special K Protein Bars Chocolate Caramel 1.59oz
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 95/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score E OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Soy Protein Isolate
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
Soluble Corn Fiber
4
Vegetable Oil
5
Palm And Palm Kernel Oil With Sorbitan Tristearate
6
Soybean And Palm Oil With Tbhq For Freshness
7
Fructose
Sweetener
Cut Back
8
Corn Syrup
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, TEXTURIZER
Cut Back GRAS
9
Inulin
Other
Safe
10
Cocoa Processed With Alkali
11
Or Less Of Water
12
Dextrose
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Cut Back GRAS
13
Rice
14
Whole Grain Wheat
15
Molasses
16
Glycerin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
17
Sorbitol
Sweetener
Cut Back
18
Natural And Artificial Flavors
19
Soy Lecithin
20
Nonfat Milk
21
Wheat Bran
22
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
23
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
24
Whey
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FORMULATION AID, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
25
Soluble Wheat Fiber
26
Paprika Oleoresin Color
27
Vegetable Juice For Color
28
Annatto Color
29
Malt Flavor
30
Xanthan Gum
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FORMULATION AID, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Approved
31
Almond Flour
32
Partially Defatted Peanut Flour
33
Bht For Freshness.vitamins And Minerals: Calcium Carbonate
34
Vitamin C
35
Ascorbic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
36
Vitamin E Acetate
37
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
38
Zinc Oxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
39
Reduced Iron
40
Vitamin B6
41
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
42
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
43
Vitamin B1
44
Thiamin Hydrochloride
45
Thiamin Mononitrate
46
Vitamin B2
47
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
48
Vitamin B12
49
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
50
Vitamin D3

Full Ingredient List

Soy protein isolate, sugar, soluble corn fiber, vegetable oil (palm and palm kernel oil with sorbitan tristearate, soybean and palm oil with tbhq for freshness), fructose, corn syrup, inulin, cocoa processed with alkali, contains 2% or less of water, dextrose, rice, whole grain wheat, molasses, glycerin, sorbitol, natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin, nonfat milk, wheat bran, salt, caramel color, whey, soluble wheat fiber, paprika oleoresin color, vegetable juice for color, annatto color, malt flavor, xanthan gum, almond flour, partially defatted peanut flour, bht for freshness.vitamins and minerals: calcium carbonate, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), vitamin e acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, reduced iron, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin a palmitate, vitamin b1 (thiamin hydrochloride, thiamin mononitrate), vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b12, folic acid, vitamin d3.

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Bars Cereal bars

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial