Don’t judge nutrition bars by labels

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By Natalie Digate
Daily Bruin Contributor

Here is the marketing hype: the athlete who won the marathon,
the student with increased brain power, and the overweight woman
transformed into thinness ““ all with the aid of a nutrition
bar.

And here are the facts: many nutrition bars provide much of the
recommended daily allowance of many vitamins and minerals, serve as
quick and easy snacks, and if chosen carefully, can be a welcome
component of a busy college student’s eating plan. But
consumers must be cautious.

A recent study conducted by ConsumerLab.com found that more than
60 percent of nutrition bars are mislabeled. Most commonly, the
products contained more carbohydrates, sodium, fat, saturated fat
and calories than indicated on labels.

Protein bars, meal replacement bars and diet bars were among the
products most likely to fail meeting their nutritional value
claims, according to the study.

Energy bars such as the Chocolate Balance Bar and general use
bars like Luna’s Lemonzest were the most likely to meet their
claims.

More than 60,000 nutrition bars are sold annually at the Market
in Ackerman Union. The bars also occupy at least two shelves in
most of the 70-plus vending machines on campus.

According to Mike Espy, market buyer for the Associated Students
of UCLA’s Market, the store devotes more space to nutrition
bars than almost any other retailer. Though not certain, it is
likely that at least some of the brands sold at UCLA failed the
ConsumerLab test, he said.

To determine if a bar is labeled correctly, ConsumerLab.com
recommends that consumers check the serving size information on the
bar’s wrapper when looking at nutritional and caloric
information. They also suggest checking that the addition of
carbohydrates (4 calories per gram), protein (4 calories per gram),
and fat (9 calories per gram) content add up to the total amount of
calories.

Even if the bar is labeled correctly, health-conscious consumers
should understand that nutrition bars are not miracle foods, said
Sheri Barke, a dietician at the Arthur Ashe Student Health &
Wellness Center.

“After seeing ads for these bars, you might believe they
will rev up your energy, build your muscles, help you lose weight
or boost your brain power,” Barke said. “In fact, these
bars offer no unique advantages over other foods for these
purposes.”

But there are benefits to eating nutrition bars, such as their
convenience, fortification with vitamins and minerals and taste
that is often as good as candy bars high in fat, Barke said.

Because most nutrition bars are concentrated, high-calorie
foods, people who are underactive or who are trying to lose weight
should use them as a meal replacement and not as a snack, Barke
said.

Because nutrition bars contain more calories than their food
counterparts, are not that filling and do not contain
disease-fighting nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, they
should not serve as a food substitute altogether, she said.

Some bars are high in heart-damaging saturated fat and partially
hydrogenated oils that can cause more harm to one’s health
than good, she said. But there is a place for nutrition bars
in a healthy diet.

“What matters most is the overall eating plan. Any food
can fit in a healthy eating plan in moderation,” Barke
said.

Busy health conscious students have figured this out.

“It’s cheaper than getting a meal and more
convenient, and they are a lot healthier than a candy bar,”
said Tammy Borrero, a fifth-year English student. “Plus, I
just throw a bar in my bag and it helps me remember to
eat.”