Avoid

Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel

by Kellogg's

Open Food Facts label for barcode 0038000531101 · Kellogg's · Plant-based foods and beverages. Screening numbers and flags live in the verdict band below. This hero only situates the source record.

Barcode 0038000531101 · Serving size 1 BAR (45 g)

The verdict

Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel by Kellogg's scores 30/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 51 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 4 ingredients are flagged for caution. The source parser split this into a very long 51-component record, beginning with Soy Protein Isolate, Sugar, Soluble Corn Fiber. That density can include amounts and label fragments, so verify the physical label before relying on ingredient order or completeness. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination.

30/100
Avoid safety score
4
Many flagged · of 51 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
D
Nutri-Score nutrition grade

Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.

Composite profile score

One verdict from three independent sources

28/100

Grade F

Ingredient Safety

30/100

FDA/CSPI flagged-ingredient screening

Processing Level

NOVA 4

Ultra-processed foods

Nutrition Grade

D

Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition grade

Weighted 50% ingredient safety / 25% processing level / 25% nutrition grade. A dimension with no data for this product (common: source coverage is partial) is dropped and its weight redistributes across the remaining dimensions, so missing data never silently lowers the score. See the full benchmark table.

00531101 · Open Food Facts · July 2026

Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel label screening desk

SCORE-AVOID 30/100 FLAG-MANY 4 flagged LEN-DENSE 51 ing. REG-PART 43% reg. NOVA-G4 G4 ultra NUTRI-D Nutri-D RANK-SHORT Len top 1% LEAD-FLAG Blue 2 PHOTO-FINISH Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' · ±0 BOOK-OFF …531101 · July 2026

22 of 51 parsed ingredients carry FDA SAFFA or CSPI coverage (lead: Blue 2). Source sheet 00531101 · Open Food Facts · July 2026. The screening score and flag counts are in the verdict band above. This desk is the provenance stamp, not a second scorecard. Methodology · Read with nearest score peer: Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' Blueberry · Nearest score peer is Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' Blueberry at the same screening score.

Screening model notes

How Nutri-Score, NOVA, and list length read this record

The composite for this product falls in the lowest of the four bands. That is where labels land when registry-rated components drive the greater part of the deduction from the index. The band name is drawn from the framework's own scale and is distinct from the ratings the registries themselves assign to individual substances, which are shown per component below. A single heavily rated component and several lightly rated ones can produce the same band, so the component table is the more precise reading of the two.

This label falls in the fourth Nutri-Score band. The model arrives there when its penalty terms — energy density, sugars, saturated fat, sodium — carry more weight in the calculation than the fibre, protein and produce content it credits. The band covers a wide span of the points scale, so position within it is not visible from the letter alone. The grade reflects the declared nutrition panel and is unrelated to the additive ratings listed below, which come from different bodies applying different criteria.

The declared list is among the longer ones in this catalogue. A component set this wide means the screen returns many individual ratings, and the composite accumulates a large number of small contributions instead of turning on a handful of entries. At this length the per-component table below is substantially more informative than the single figure, because the figure compresses a great deal of variation into one number.

Cross-brand screening score neighbourhood

1. Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel: 30/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #11. Protein meal bars, chocol…30/1002. Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' Blueberry: 30/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #22. Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin'…30/1003. Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts: 30/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #33. Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tar…30/1004. Frosted Blueberry Flavored Tasty Filled Pastry Bites, Frosted Blueberry: 30/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #44. Frosted Blueberry Flavore…30/1005. Frosted Blueberry: 30/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #55. Frosted Blueberry30/100
Nearest cross-brand screening scores for Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel (30/100 on 51 parsed ingredients).
Chart values as text

Unit: PlainFoodSafe screening score out of 100. Data current as of July 2026.

Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel
30/100
Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' Blueberry
30/100
Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts
30/100
Frosted Blueberry Flavored Tasty Filled Pastry Bites, Frosted Blueberry
30/100
Frosted Blueberry
30/100

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 88,006 products we've scored in the Snacks category, the average safety score is 86.1/100. Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel scores 56.1 points below that category average (30/100 vs. 86.1/100), so it is a comparatively weaker pick for shoppers screening within that category specifically, rather than against the product catalog as a whole.

Ingredient-list length vs other Plant-based foods and beverages products

Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel lists 51 ingredients on its label

51 99th percentile a longer ingredient list than 99% of the 63,434 products we track

0–2: 3,907 products (6%). Below this entry. 2–4: 7,921 products (12%). Below this entry. 4–6: 8,845 products (14%). Below this entry. 6–8: 7,032 products (11%). Below this entry. 8–10: 6,320 products (10%). Below this entry. 10–12: 4,190 products (7%). Below this entry. 12–14: 3,449 products (5%). Below this entry. 14–16: 3,051 products (5%). Below this entry. 16–18: 2,493 products (4%). Below this entry. 18–20: 2,053 products (3%). Below this entry. 20–22: 1,808 products (3%). Below this entry. 22–24: 1,758 products (3%). Below this entry. 24–26: 1,623 products (3%). Below this entry. 26–28: 1,606 products (3%). Below this entry. 28–30: 1,360 products (2%). Below this entry. 30–32: 1,198 products (2%). Below this entry. 32–34: 1,081 products (2%). Below this entry. 34–36: 901 products (1%). Below this entry. 36–38: 649 products (1%). Below this entry. 38–40: 534 products (1%). Below this entry. 40–42: 1,655 products (3%). This entry sits in this band. This product 0 42 every published Plant-based foods and beverages product, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Distribution as text

63,434 products, bucketed in bands of 2. This entry: 51 (99th percentile). Data current as of July 2026.

0–2
3,907 products (6%)
2–4
7,921 products (12%)
4–6
8,845 products (14%)
6–8
7,032 products (11%)
8–10
6,320 products (10%)
10–12
4,190 products (7%)
12–14
3,449 products (5%)
14–16
3,051 products (5%)
16–18
2,493 products (4%)
18–20
2,053 products (3%)
20–22
1,808 products (3%)
22–24
1,758 products (3%)
24–26
1,623 products (3%)
26–28
1,606 products (3%)
28–30
1,360 products (2%)
30–32
1,198 products (2%)
32–34
1,081 products (2%)
34–36
901 products (1%)
36–38
649 products (1%)
38–40
534 products (1%)
40 and above
1,655 products (3%)

Source Open Food Facts, product label ingredient lists · July 2026

Ingredient-list length is a descriptive property of the label, not a safety rating. A longer list is not automatically worse and a shorter one is not automatically better; the count is shown so the label can be placed against a comparable population. The comparison here runs against the 63,434 Plant-based foods and beverages products we publish with a parsed label, not against the whole catalogue, because list length varies far more between categories than within one.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

How the 30/100 score is built

Screening starts at 100 and subtracts severity-weighted FDA SAFFA / CSPI flags (4 flagged of 51 labeled). The floor is 0 when deductions exceed 100.

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
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
11
Cocoa Processed With Alkali
12
Or Less Of Water
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
Nonfat Milk
20
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
21
Soy Lecithin
22
Wheat Bran
23
Caramel Coloring
Coloring
Avoid 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
Malt Flavor
27
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
28
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
29
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
30
Bht For Freshness
31
Blue 2
Avoid Approved (certified color)
32
Almond Flour
33
Calcium Carbonate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
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
37
Alpha Tocopherol Acetate
38
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
39
Zinc Oxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
40
Reduced Iron
41
Vitamin B6
42
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
43
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
44
Vitamin B1
45
Thiamin Hydrochloride
46
Thiamin Mononitrate
47
Vitamin B2
48
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
49
Vitamin B12
50
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
51
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, dextrose, cocoa processed with alkali, contains 2% or less of water, rice, whole grain wheat, molasses, glycerin, sorbitol, natural and artificial flavors, nonfat milk, salt, soy lecithin, wheat bran, caramel color, whey, soluble wheat fiber, malt flavor, xanthan gum, yellow 6 lake, yellow 5 lake, bht for freshness, blue 2 lake, almond flour, partially defatted peanut flour. vitamins and minerals: calcium carbonate, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), vitamin e (alpha tocopherol 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

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods Snacks Cereals and potatoes Sweet snacks Cereals and their products Bars Cereal bars

Lower-score cross-brand comparables for Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel

Neighbours outside Kellogg's in the same lower screening band as Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel (30/100). The 5 same-brand links above stay within Kellogg's; these peers cross brands.

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Blue 2 is the first flagged ingredient selected from Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel's parsed label. Start with that ingredient’s source context, then compare the rest of this 51-ingredient record.

  • Inspect the FDA SAFFA and CSPI context attached to Blue 2. Open Blue 2
  • Compare Protein meal bars, chocolate caramel's 4 flagged ingredients with a product from the same score neighbourhood. Compare labels
  • Check how caution flags contribute to the derived screening score before drawing a dietary conclusion. Read the method

This page describes published ingredient-list and source coverage. It is not dietary or medical advice.

Barcode 0038000531101: product data from Open Food Facts (July 2026). Screening from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine where attached. Figures are computed from those sources, not editor-typed. Methodology. Reference only, not dietary or medical advice.