Shoppers comparing fat content
If you want to cut back on fat, a claim on the front of the wrapper is only a starting point. Compare total fat and saturates per 100g, then look at what one bar contains.
Who is this for?
Shoppers checking protein per bar
A portable bar may be useful when you want to know the protein amount in a single serving. Read that figure alongside the fat and saturates for the same bar.
Shoppers checking ingredients
If particular allergens or sweeteners matter to you, read the statement for the exact flavour. Ingredients and warnings can be more decisive than the protein figure.
What should you compare?
Start with figures that let you compare different bar sizes, then check the serving you would actually eat.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | Compare fat per 100g, then fat per bar. The NHS describes 3g fat or less per 100g as low fat for solid foods; “reduced fat” instead compares a product with a similar one. | I want to compare bars of different sizes without mistaking a smaller portion for a lower-fat product. |
| Saturates | Read saturates per 100g and per bar alongside total fat. The NHS identifies more than 5g saturates per 100g as high. | If I am also watching saturates, a total-fat figure alone will not answer my question. |
| Protein per bar | Use the protein figure for the actual bar size. Read its fat and saturates on the same per-bar basis; low-sugar wording does not establish low fat. | A stated protein amount is useful to me, but I want to see what else comes in that serving. |
| Pack and ingredients | Check the number and size of bars, then read the exact flavour’s ingredients, allergen statement and any sweetener warning. | I may prefer a multipack, but each bar still needs to meet my nutrition and ingredient requirements. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Treating “reduced fat” as “low fat”
The NHS explains that a reduced-fat claim means at least 30% less fat than a similar product. The resulting product can still contain more than the NHS low-fat guide of 3g fat per 100g for solid foods.
Check the current per-100g nutrition panel. If the comparison itself matters to you, check which similar product the claim refers to.
-
Choosing on protein or sugar wording alone
Those figures do not tell you the total fat or saturates. Barebells UK lists 20g protein, 8.2g fat and 3.6g saturates in its 55g Salty Peanut bar.
Compare protein, fat and saturates for the same serving, as well as the per-100g figures when looking across brands.
-
Skipping the exact flavour’s ingredients
Barebells UK says its Salty Peanut bar contains milk, peanuts and soya, may contain gluten and nuts, and carries an excessive-consumption warning relating to laxative effects.
Read the current pack’s ingredients, allergen statement and warnings rather than assuming another flavour has the same formulation.
Brand references
These examples describe particular bars or product lines, not every bar made by each brand.
Myprotein
Myprotein UK describes its Lean Layered Protein Bar as having less fat than its original Layered Bar and states 15g protein.
- The comparison gives fat-focused shoppers a specific product to investigate.
- Check the current fat figures for the bar and its comparator before treating the wording as proof that it meets a particular fat threshold.
Barebells
Barebells UK lists 20g protein, 8.2g fat and 3.6g saturates per 55g Salty Peanut bar.
- The per-bar figures allow protein and fat to be considered together for this flavour.
- Its ingredient statement lists milk, peanuts and soya; check the current pack for allergens and warnings.
PhD
PhD describes its Smart Bar range as high in protein and low in sugar.
- The range may be relevant if protein and sugar are among your comparison points.
- For a fat-focused choice, read the total-fat and saturates figures on the exact flavour’s current label.
Grenade
Grenade UK presents its protein-bar range as high in protein and low in sugar, with several bar lines.
- Different lines and flavours give shoppers distinct labels and bar sizes to compare.
- Range-wide wording does not establish the fat or saturates content of an individual bar.
Protein bars on Joybuy
These PhD and Grenade bars are multipack options for comparing serving size, flavour and the exact nutrition label. Do not treat their protein or low-sugar wording as a reduced-fat claim.
No image available
PhD Smart Protein Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavour, 12 x 64g
This 12-bar pack suits a comparison based on what each 64g bar contains. If fat is your priority, check the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavour’s fat and saturates per 100g and per bar, along with its allergen statement.
No image available
Grenade Soft Core Protein Bar Double Chocolate, 12 x 50g
With 12 bars of 50g, this pack calls for a per-100g comparison as well as a look at one bar’s serving figures. Check the Double Chocolate label for protein, total fat, saturates and allergens.
No image available
Grenade Protein Bar Oreo Flavour, 4 x 60g
The four-bar format may suit a shop where you want fewer bars at once. For the Oreo flavour, compare protein and fat per 60g bar, then use the per-100g fat and saturates figures when comparing it with other sizes.
No image available
Grenade Protein Bar Oreo Flavour, 12 x 60g
This Oreo-flavour listing contains 12 bars of 60g rather than four. Check the current nutrition and ingredient label for this pack; a larger bar count does not change what you need to assess in each serving.
No image available
Grenade Protein Bar White Oreo, 12 x 60g
White Oreo is a distinct flavour in a 12 x 60g pack. Read its own nutrition panel for fat, saturates and protein, and check its ingredients rather than relying on another Oreo variant’s label.
Questions about protein bars
Does “reduced fat” mean a protein bar is low fat?
No. The NHS explains that “reduced fat” means at least 30% less fat than a similar product, while its low-fat guide for solid foods is 3g fat or less per 100g. Read the bar’s nutrition panel to see where it falls.
Which fat figures should I compare first?
Compare total fat and saturates per 100g to account for different bar sizes, then check both figures per bar. The NHS describes more than 17.5g fat or more than 5g saturates per 100g as high.
Can a low-sugar protein bar still contain substantial fat?
Yes. Sugar and fat are separate figures: Barebells UK lists 8.2g fat and 3.6g saturates in a 55g Salty Peanut bar. Check both nutrients for the particular bar you are considering.
What should I check if allergens or sweeteners matter to me?
Read the current ingredients, allergen statement and warnings for the exact flavour. Barebells UK says its Salty Peanut bar contains milk, peanuts and soya, may contain gluten and nuts, and warns that excessive consumption may have laxative effects.