Protein bars, found in almost every supermarket and pharmacy across Britain, are marketed as health-boosting snacks. The industry is now worth over £1.3 billion and continues to grow. However, experts warn that many of these bars contain high levels of sugar, saturated fat, and ultra-processed ingredients.
A 2025 study by Queen Mary University of London found that 37% of snack bars sold in ten supermarkets were high in sugar, and over half were high in saturated fat. Researchers concluded that customers are being 'misled' about the healthiness of these products. TV fitness guru Joe Wicks also highlighted these concerns in his documentary Licensed To Kill.
Nutritionist Pippa Campbell, author of Eat Right, Lose Weight, said: 'I'm not a big fan of protein bars in general. Many are ultra-processed and low in real nutrition. They can be useful occasionally, but should never replace a balanced meal.'
Despite the risks, some bars are better than others. Fulfil bars, for example, are low in sugar (1.7g) and high in protein (20g), with added vitamins. However, they contain sugar alcohols and only 3.4g of fibre. The Fast 800 Dark Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bar offers 14g of protein, 9g of fibre, and just 1g of sugar, but includes soya protein isolate and sweeteners.
Experts recommend natural protein sources like seeds, nuts, eggs, and yoghurt over processed bars. While protein bars can be convenient for travel or when proper food is unavailable, they should not be considered health foods.
