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Customers are being “misled” snack bars Which are marketed as “healthy” but are actually packed Sugar And caloriesExperts have warned.
A new study from Action on Salt and Sugar at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) analyzed the nutritional content of more than 450 bars sold in ten supermarkets in the UK.
It found that more than a third of bars (37 percent) had too much sugar, while more than half (55 percent) had too much sugar. saturated fatAdditionally, despite being sold as “healthy”, the analysis revealed that worryingly almost two-thirds (64 percent) of snack bars would be classified as a ‘less healthy’ product,
Among the worst violators was M&S Dark Chocolate Date Bar, which had 198 calories but 26.5g of sugar per serving, Naked. Raw Fruit and Nut Bars in Blueberry Muffin and Salted Caramel flavors (131 and 134 calories, respectively, with 17 grams of sugar each), and Tasty Ella Roasted Peanut Protein Balls, which had 150 calories and 16 grams of sugar per serving.
Government guidelines suggest that adults should not have more than 30 grams of free sugar a day, (equivalent to about 7 sugar cubes), and children aged 7 to 10 should not have more than 24 grams of free sugar a day (equivalent to 6 sugar cubes).
Researchers are now calling on the government to implement mandatory front-of-pack labeling to allow consumers to easily identify healthier options, prevent misleading claims, and impose a levy to encourage shoppers to choose healthier options.
Dr Kawthar Hashem, senior lecturer in public health nutrition and head of research and impact at QMUL-based Action on Salt and Sugar, said parents and young people are being “misled” into believing they are buying healthy products, when many snack bars contain added sugar and calories.
“The government must take more determined action by mandating clear front-of-pack labeling and tightening sugar limits, imposing tariffs on unhealthy foods and setting ambitious healthy sales targets to truly protect children’s health,” she said.
Nourhan Barakat, nutritionist at Action on Salt and Sugar, said: “As consumers, we deserve honesty from food businesses and we should not have to put up with confusing or misleading claims.
“Phrases like ‘natural ingredients’, ‘high fiber’ and ‘high protein’ can be misleading as many of these bars can be high in sugar and saturated fat. It is unacceptable that an average serving provides almost a third of a child’s recommended daily sugar intake, putting young children at risk of diet-related health conditions that they may carry with them throughout their lives.”
Deliciously Ella says its Roasted Peanut Protein Balls are a “functional, energizing snack made with six simple ingredients,” but they don’t have “specific nutrition figures for sugar or saturated fat” beyond those shared publicly. It says it “always strives for transparency and high quality”.
Marks & Spencer, Cash and the Department of Health and Social Care have been contacted for comment.