Vegans comparing protein per snack
You want an explicitly vegan bar and need to know how much protein the individual serving provides, rather than relying on the word “protein” on the front of the pack.
Who is this for?
Shoppers checking food allergens
You need to assess named allergens and any “may contain” statement for the exact flavour. The Food Standards Agency advises against using vegan labelling as a substitute for allergen information.
Shoppers comparing sugars and polyols
You want to distinguish sugars from sweeteners and polyols when comparing bars described as low sugar or having no added sugar.
What should you check?
Check dietary suitability and allergens for the exact flavour before comparing the nutrition information for the bar you would eat.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan and allergen labelling | Read the vegan statement, full ingredients, named allergens and any precautionary “may contain” wording on the exact flavour. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling alone is not a proxy for allergen labelling. | I need to know whether this particular bar meets my dietary requirements and whether its allergen information is relevant to me. |
| Protein per bar | Compare the stated protein and weight of one bar, not just figures per 100g. PhD lists 20g per 64g Smart Plant Salted Caramel bar; Barebells lists 15g per vegan bar; Joybuy lists 9.8g per 50g TREK Biscoff Flapjack. | A confectionery-style protein bar may suit me when protein per snack matters most. If I prefer a flapjack, I can compare its stated serving on the same per-bar basis. |
| Sugars and polyols | Read sugars and polyols separately on the nutrition panel, then check the sweeteners in the ingredients. Joybuy’s PhD Smart Plant Salted Caramel listing states less than 1g sugar and 14g polyols per 64g bar; Barebells warns that excessive consumption of its vegan Caramel Peanut bar may have laxative effects. | If I limit sugar or pay attention to polyols, I need both figures where they are given. “No added sugar” alone does not answer the polyol question. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “vegan” as an allergy-safety claim
A vegan bar can contain plant allergens or carry a precautionary warning about other allergens. The Food Standards Agency specifically cautions that vegan labelling alone should not stand in for allergen labelling.
For the exact flavour and pack, check the current ingredients, named allergens and any “may contain” statement rather than relying on a vegan logo or shopping filter.
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Assuming every protein snack provides a similar serving
The stated amounts differ between products: PhD Smart Plant Salted Caramel lists 20g protein per 64g bar, while Joybuy lists 9.8g per 50g TREK Biscoff Flapjack.
Compare protein per bar and bar weight, then use the nutrition panel to compare other values that matter to you.
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Using a sugar claim to judge sweeteners
Low sugar does not mean a bar contains few polyols. Joybuy’s PhD Smart Plant Salted Caramel listing states 14g polyols per 64g bar, while Barebells gives an excessive-consumption warning for its vegan Caramel Peanut bar.
If polyols matter to your choice, check their stated amount and the ingredients before choosing a multipack.
Relevant brand ranges
PhD
PhD’s Smart Plant line offers a specifically vegan confectionery-style protein bar.
- PhD and Joybuy state 20g protein per 64g Smart Plant Salted Caramel bar.
- The Salted Caramel ingredients include soya, peanut and gluten-containing malt extract; PhD also lists possible traces of sulphites, sesame seeds and nuts.
Barebells
Barebells has a vegan bar range stating 15g plant protein per bar and no added sugar.
- Its vegan range gives shoppers a specifically labelled vegan bar option.
- Barebells says its vegan bars contain gluten. Caramel Peanut contains peanuts, soybean and wheat and may contain milk, eggs, tree nuts and sesame seeds.
Myprotein / Myvegan
Myprotein includes vegan protein bars and other snacks in its Myvegan range.
- The range lets shoppers consider bars alongside other plant-based snack formats.
- Check the nutrition and allergen panel of the individual bar and flavour before comparing it with another product.
Grenade
Grenade’s UK protein-bar collection is a comparison point when checking whether a specific bar meets a vegan requirement.
- The collection identifies individual protein-bar products and flavours to assess.
- Do not treat the general protein-bar collection or Carb Killa name as a vegan statement; check the exact product’s dietary and ingredient information.
Quest
Quest’s referenced protein-bar formulation illustrates why a protein bar should not be assumed to be vegan.
- Quest identifies the protein sources used in its referenced bars.
- Quest says those bars use dairy-based proteins, including milk protein isolate, so that formulation does not meet a vegan requirement.
Joybuy product options
These TREK flapjacks are options for shoppers considering a protein snack in a flapjack format. Check each flavour’s vegan statement and allergen information separately; the product details below do not establish that both have the same ingredients.
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TREK Salted Caramel Protein Flapjacks, 3 × 50g
For shoppers considering a flapjack rather than a confectionery-style bar. The pack contains three 50g bars; check the exact flavour’s vegan statement, protein per bar and allergen information before choosing it.
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TREK Biscoff Flapjack, 3 × 50g
A vegan-friendly flapjack option when you prefer that format to a confectionery-style bar. Joybuy states 9.8g plant protein per 50g bar. It lists wheat and soya as allergens and says the product may contain peanuts, nuts and milk; check the current pack if any of these matter to you.
Questions about vegan protein bars
Does a vegan label mean a bar is suitable for someone with a milk or egg allergy?
No. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling alone should not be used as a proxy for allergen labelling because of possible cross-contamination. Check the exact product’s ingredients, named allergens and precautionary statement.
Can a vegan protein bar contain other common allergens?
Yes. PhD’s Smart Plant Salted Caramel ingredients include soya, peanut and gluten-containing malt extract. Barebells says its vegan Caramel Peanut bar contains peanuts, soybean and wheat. Check the current label for the particular flavour, including any “may contain” wording.
Should I compare protein per 100g or per bar?
Start with protein per bar if you are choosing one portable snack, then check the bar’s weight and other nutrition values. PhD lists 20g per 64g Smart Plant Salted Caramel bar, Barebells lists 15g per vegan bar, and Joybuy lists 9.8g per 50g TREK Biscoff Flapjack.
Does “low sugar” tell me how many polyols a bar contains?
No. Joybuy’s PhD Smart Plant Salted Caramel listing states less than 1g sugar alongside 14g polyols per 64g bar. Read the separate sugars and polyols figures where given, as well as the ingredients; Barebells also warns that excessive consumption of its vegan Caramel Peanut bar may have laxative effects.