Can you spot the ultraprocessed foods?

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Barebells Cookies & Cream
Cereal & Breakfast
📊 NOVA 4🌾 Gluten-Free

Barebells Cookies & Cream

Barebells
1.94 oz
Available at Foodtown
200
Calories
20g
Protein
1g
Sugars
75mg
Sodium
3g
Fiber
43
Ingredients

What You Should Know

Barebells Cookies & Cream is a single-serve, 1.94 oz protein bar presented in a glossy, colorful foil wrapper you’d spot on a supermarket shelf or at a gym pro shop. In the store you’ll most often find it in the snack and health-nutrition aisle near protein bars, meal-replacement bars, and candy bars — sometimes stacked next to sugar-free confections or sports nutrition products. The bar is marketed as an indulgent, high-protein treat: branding emphasizes muscle-friendly protein content and "guilt-free" dessert appeal rather than organic or whole-food credentials. Labels commonly display "high protein" and low-sugar claims, creating a health halo even though sweeteners like maltitol and sucralose and flavoring systems are used; there’s no organic certification and only a "natural and artificial flavors" statement in fine print. Texturally, imagine a chewy, creamy interior with cookie-like crumb pieces and a smooth chocolatey coating — a quick, hand-held ritual that doubles as a post-workout pick-me-up or an after-lunch dessert replacement. People buy it for convenience: grab-and-go sweetness without having to eat a full candy bar. Cultural positioning skews toward fitness-minded millennials and Gen Z who want snackable indulgence that supports protein goals; the marketing leans playful and premium rather than family- or kid-centric. In plain language, this is an ultra-processed, factory-formulated product composed of protein isolates, sugar alcohols, emulsifiers, and flavor systems. It functions as a portable treat that sits at the intersection of candy and sports nutrition in American grocery culture.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1
Servings per Container: 1
Calories200
% Daily Value*
Total Fat7g9%
Saturated Fat3g15%
Cholesterol10mg3%
Sodium75mg3%
Total Carbohydrate20g7%
Dietary Fiber3g11%
Total Sugars1g
Protein20g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

Milk, Protein, Blend, (Calcium, Caseinate,, Whey, Protein, Concentrate,, Whey, Protein, Isolate),, Glycerin,, Maltitol,, Bovine, Collagen, Hydrolysate,, Polydextrose,, Cocoa, Butter,, Water,, Soy, Protein, Isolate,, Dry, Whole, Milk,, Sunflower, Oil,, Unsweetened, Chocolate,, Tapioca, Starch,, Natural, and, Artificial, Flavors,, Cocoa, Processed, with, Alkali,, Sunflower, Lecithin,, Sucralose..

Flagged Ingredients:

  • sunflower oil - Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids
  • soy lecithin - Processed emulsifier
No Seed OilNo Emulsifier

Dietary Labels

This product is not vegan, is gluten-free, and is not organic.

Ultra-Processing Assessment

NOVA Score:4 / 4

Ultra-Processed

Why this score?

The ingredient list is dominated by industrially processed components—protein isolates and concentrates, sugar alcohols, bulking agents, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers and flavor systems—typical of ultra-processed foods. These reformulated, multi-ingredient industrial formulations warrant a NOVA 4 classification.

Daily Ritual

Can you Spot Ultraprocessed Foods? Play our Supermarket Game

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Shopping in the supermarket oil aisle

Others also viewed

Common Questions about Barebells Cookies & Cream

That depends on what 'healthy' means to you! With 20 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar per serving, it can be a great option for a post-workout snack or a quick breakfast. However, it's not exactly a whole food, so if you're aiming for a clean-eating lifestyle, you might want to enjoy it in moderation.

Perfect For

post-workout
movie-night
road-trip

Vibe:

indulgentconvenientnostalgic
$NaN
per package