Pure Protein bars are a popular snack choice for those looking to increase their protein intake. But are Pure Protein bars healthy? This Pure Protein bar dietitian review will help you decide if Pure Protein bars are a healthy addition to your grocery cart. Read on for our dietitian review of taste, nutritional properties, ingredients, use, and cost before you buy.
About Pure Protein bars
Pure Protein bars are low-sugar protein bars with 20g of protein from milk and soy protein isolate. They are available in twelve flavors: Galactic Brownie, Caramel Churro, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Deluxe, Chocolate Salted Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Chewy Chocolate Chip, Lemon Cake, Chocolate Mint Cookie, and Birthday Cake.
Pure Protein Bar Ingredients
| Flavor | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Chocolate Peanut Butter | Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Glycerine, Maltitol Syrup, Soy Protein Isolate, Water, Maltitol, Peanuts, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Peanut Oil, Sugar, Tapioca Starch, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Natural Flavor (includes annatto and turmeric added for color), Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, Almond Butter. |
| Chocolate Deluxe | Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Glycerine, Cocoa, Water, Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Maltitol Syrup, Sugar, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Natural Flavor (includes annatto and turmeric added for color), Cellulose, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Milkfat, Almond Butter, Sucralose. Contains milk, soy, peanut and tree nut (almond) ingredients. Made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, egg, wheat, and sesame. |
| Chocolate Salted Caramel | Coating [Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel and Palm Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sugar, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Salt, Natural Flavor (includes annatto and turmeric added for color), Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Nonfat Milk, Whey, Yogurt Powder (Cultured Whey Protein Concentrate, Cultured Nonfat Milk), Peanuts, Sucralose], Caramel Layer [Maltitol Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Heavy Cream (Cream, Milk, Nonfat Milk, Cellulose Gel, Milk Solids, Cellulose Gum), Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Butter, Water, Disodium Phosphate, Caramel Added For Color, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Carrageenan], Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Glycerine, Soy Protein Crisps (Soy Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Salt), Natural Flavor, Caramel Flavored Chips (Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Milk, Milk, Natural Flavor, Cocoa, Soy Lecithin, Annatto Extract Added For Color), Maltitol Syrup, Water, Canola Oil (tocopherols added to protect flavor), Soy Lecithin, Almond Butter, Sucralose, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour. |
| Chocolate Peanut Caramel | Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Isolate), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Maltitol Syrup, Glycerine, Water, Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Peanuts, Whey Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors (Includes Annatto And Turmeric Added For Color), Nonfat Milk, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Milk Protein Concentrate, Heavy Cream (Cream, Milk, Nonfat Milk, Cellulose Gel, Milk Solids, Cellulose Gum), Butter (Cream), Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Disodium Phosphate, Caramel Added For Color, Almond Butter, Sucralose, Salt, Carrageenan. |
| Cookies & Cream | Protein Blend (Soy Protein Cocoa Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Tapioca Starch], Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Cocoa Crisps [Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Calcium Carbonate, Sunflower Lecithin], Casein, Partially Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate), Glycerine, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Soluble Tapioca Fiber Syrup, Fractionated Palm Kernel And Palm Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Invert Evaporated Cane Syrup, Erythritol, Brown Rice Syrup, High Oleic Sunflower Oil With Tocopherols Added To Protect Flavor, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Unsweetened Chocolate, Yogurt Powder (Whey Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Yogurt Cultures), Water, Fructooligosaccharides, Brown Rice Flour, Natural Flavor, Sugar, Inulin, Palm Oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Flaxseed, Sucralose, Sunflower Lecithin. |
| Chewy Chocolate Chip | Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerine, Maltitol Syrup, Water, Maltodextrin, Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Sugar, Whey Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Natural Flavors, Milk, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Tapioca Starch, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa, Butterfat, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Sucralose, Almond Butter, Tocopherols Added To Protect Flavor |
| Lemon Cake | Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Partially Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Casein, Soy Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Salt], Soy Protein Isolate), Maltitol Syrup, Glycerine, Fractionated Palm Kernel And Palm Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Erythritol, Natural Flavor, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Brown Rice Syrup, Water, Canola Oil, Yogurt Powder (Whey Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Yogurt Cultures), Sugar, Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Turmeric (Color), Ground Almonds, Sucralose, Tocopherols Added To Protect Flavor, Sunflower And/Or Soybean Oil. |
| Chocolate Mint Cookie | Maltitol Syrup, Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Soy Protein Isolate, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Glycerine, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel And Palm Oil, Whey Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavor (Includes Annatto And Turmeric [Color]), Sugar, Tapioca Starch, Canola Oil, Water, Milk, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Calcium Carbonate, Sucralose, Milkfat, Calcium Caseinate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Yogurt Powder (Nonfat Milk, Lactic Acid), Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Ground Almonds, Tocopherols Added To Protect Flavor. |
| Pure Protein | Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate), Maltitol Syrup, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerine, Maltitol, Fractionated Palm Kernel And Palm Oil, Water, Sprinkles (Sugar, Cornstarch, Confectioner’s Glaze, Yellow 5, Red 3, Carnauba Wax, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), Sugar, Canola Oil, Natural Flavor, Calcium Caseinate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Tapioca Starch, Yogurt Powder (Nonfat Milk, Lactic Acid), Soy Lecithin, Salt, Cornstarch, Sucralose, Tocopherols Added To Protect Flavor. |
Protein blend: soy protein isolate, whey protein (a type of protein found in milk), and milk protein isolate.
Hydrolyzed collagen: a form of protein.
Glycerin: produced by hydrolysis of fats and oils. Glycerin has many uses as a food ingredient, including as a sweetener, bulking agent or filler, hydrating agent, and solvent.
Maltitol Syrup: low-sugar syrup containing sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols used in low-sugar products as a non-sugar sweetener. They can have a laxative effect if consumed in high doses.
Maltodextrin: source of added fiber.
Maltitol: type of sugar alcohol created from sugar. Sugar alcohols are added to low-sugar products as a non-sugar sweetener. They can have a laxative effect if consumed in high doses.
Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil: vegetable oil that contains mostly saturated fats. Fractioning palm oil is the process of separating different types of fatty acids from palm oil.
Sugar: added in small amounts as a sweetener.
Whey protein concentrate: one of the two types of proteins found in milk.
Canola oil: a type of oil made from the canola seed. Canola oil is rich in oleic acid (omega-9). Read our full Canola Oil review here.
Natural flavors: this is a blanket term for any combination of extracts from plant or animal products. Check out our blog post, What are Natural Flavors and Should you Avoid them?, for more information on natural flavors.
Pure Protein Bar Ingredients Continued…
Chocolate Liquor: used for added flavoring.
Cocoa Butter: the fat that is removed from cocoa beans during processing.
Tapioca Starch: a gluten-free flour from the cassava plant. Used as a binding and thickening agent in foods.
Cocoa: unsweetened form of chocolate. This is the leftover part of the cocoa bean after the cocoa butter has been removed.
Calcium carbonate: used as a filler and anti-caking agent in foods.
Soy lecithin: used as an emulsifier to help fats blend with other ingredients. Read more about lecithins in our Lecithin Ingredient Review here.
Butterfat: source of saturated fats.
Xantham gum: emulsifying, stabilizing, thickening agent used to improve the texture of foods.
Salt: used for flavoring and as a preservative.
Partially defatted peanut flour: dried peanut flour in a lower calorie form.
Sucralose: a type of non-calorie sweetener made from table sugar.
Almond butter: almond purée.
Tocopherols: preservative.
Priority allergens:
Contains milk, soy, peanut and tree nuts. Made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, egg, wheat and sesame. Always check the product label for up-to-date nutrient and ingredient information before consuming.
Pure Protein Bar Nutrition Facts
| Galactic Brownie Bar | Caramel Churro Bar | Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar | Chocolate Deluxe | Chocolate Salted Caramel | Chocolate Salted Caramel | Chocolate Peanut Caramel | Cookies and Cream | Chewy Chocolate Chip | Lemon Cake | Chocolate Mint | Birthday Cake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 180 | 180 | 200 | 180 | 200 | 200 | 190 | 190 | 200 | 200 | 180 | 200 |
| Fat (g) | 4.5 | 6 | 7 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 3.5 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Sodium (mg) | 160 | 180 | 200 | 90 | 220 | 220 | 210 | 180 | 110 | 130 | 100 | 150 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 18 |
| Fiber (g) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sugar (g) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Protein (g) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
| Potassium (mg) | 115 | 90 | 150 | 130 | 70 | 70 | 95 | 100 | 90 | 110 | 180 | 80 |
| Calcium (mg) | 120 | 130 | 110 | 100 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 160 | 150 | 190 | 150 | 160 |
| Iron (mg) | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
The nutrition facts below are based on the Chocolate Salted Caramel Flavor, with the range for all flavors in parenthesis. Always check the product packaging for the most up-to-date nutrition and ingredient information before consuming.
Calories: 200 (180-200).
Fat: 5g (4.5-7g) from palm oil, cocoa butter, peanut flour, and almond butter.
Saturated fat: 4.5g (3-4.5g) from palm oil and cocoa butter.
Sodium: 220mg (90-220mg) from salt.
Carbohydrate: 20g (16-20g) from tapioca starch.
Fiber: 0g (0-4g) from maltodextrin.
Sugar: 3g (1-4g) from table sugar.
Protein: 19g (19-21g) form soy and milk proteins.
Other nutrients: potassium 70mg, calcium 130mg, iron 0.7mg.
Cost
Pure Protein bars are available for $7.49 for a 4-count box.
Are Pure Protein Bars Healthy?
We gave Pure Protein bars a nutrition score of 22 out of 100. While these bars may seem like a healthy choice due to their high protein and low sugar content, there are three reasons why I don’t recommend these bars:
1. Pure Protein Bars are High in Saturated Fat
Saturated fat makes up 43-90% of the total fat content in Pure Protein Bars, most of which comes from palm oil.
Is Palm Oil bad for you?
While we know that a diet high in saturated fats can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, not all sources of saturated fats have an equal negative impact on heart health. A 2021 Systematic Review of Palm Oil and Cardiovascular Disease found that higher intakes of palm oil can increase LDL (bad) but can also increase HDL (good) cholesterol. This means that the saturated fats found in palm oil may not be as harmful as other sources of saturated fat in the diet, such as butter (which only increases LDL (bad) cholesterol). However, it still does increase LDL levels and is likely not as beneficial as other sources of fats such as nuts, seeds, or olive oil. For this reason, I recommend choosing products rich in unsaturated fats from these sources.
2. Pure Protein Bars Contain Multiple Non-Sugar Sweeteners
Though Pure Protein bars are low in sugar, they contain multiple non-sugar sweeteners, including Maltitol syrup (sugar alcohol), Maltitol (sugar alcohol), and Sucralose (also known as Splenda).
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners Bad for You?
Whether or not non-sugar sweeteners are a better option than sugar has been debated over the years. While these sweeteners are unlikely to cause harm at typical doses normally consumed, the World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines in 2023, suggesting that in addition to reducing our intake of added sugar, we should limit our intake of non-sugar sweeteners. In short, they concluded that using non-sugar sweeteners in place of added sugar does not seem to support long-term weight loss or disease prevention. I recommend choosing protein bars with fewer artificial sweeteners and sugar. Check out my list of the Best Protein Bars here for my faves.
3. Pure Protein Bars are Low in Fiber
Pure Protein bars are low in fiber, with 0-4g per bar depending on the flavor. Ideally, we want to aim for a protein bar with at least 4g of fiber per bar to contribute to an overall high-fiber diet. Alternatively, you can pair your protein bar with a high fiber food, such as fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Pure Protein bars gluten-free?
Pure Protein bars are made in a facility that processed wheat products and may be unsafe for a gluten-free diet. Always check the product label for up-to-date nutrition and ingredient information before consuming.
Are Pure Protein bars keto?
Pure Protein bars contain 15-17g of net carbohydrates per bar and are not considered keto.
Are Pure Protein bars vegan?
No, Pure Protein bars contain milk ingredients and are not considered vegan.
Are Pure Protein bars nut-free?
Pure Protein bars contain peanuts and tree nuts. Always check the product label for up-to-date nutrition and ingredient information before consuming.
How much protein is in Pure Protein bars?
Pure Protein bars contain 19-21g of protein per bar, depending on the flavour.
Are Pure Protein bars low-carb?
Pure protein bars contain 15-17g of carbohydrate, which is a moderate amount.
Sugar in Pure Protein bars.
Pure protein bars contain 1-3g of sugar per bar. They are sweetened with the non-sugar sweeteners Maltitol and Sucralose.
Are Pure Protein bars good for weight loss?
Weight loss depends on your overall pattern of eating. That being said, Pure Protein bars contain an appropriate amount of calories for most adults to consume between meals as a snack, and the high protein and moderate fat content may help you feel more satiated between meals, which can aid in weight loss.
Pure Protein bars vs. Quest bars
Compared to Quest bars, Pure Protein bars contain a similar amount of calories, sugar, and protein per bar. Quest bars are slightly lower in carbohydrates, with 10-15g of net carbohydrates per bar, compared to 15-17g in Pure Protein bars. Both Quest and Pure Protein bars contain sugar alcohols and sucralose as non-sugar sweeteners, though Quest bars contain lower amounts of sugar alcohols compared to Pure Protein. Quest bars also contain the non-sugar sweetener Stevia. Check out our full review of Quest Bars for more information here.
Related Posts:
- Sugar Free Protein Bars you Can Buy at the Grocery Store
- Are Quest Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Dairy Free Protein Bars You Can Buy at the Grocery Store
Additional Sources:
- Glycerin, Technical Evaluation Report, USDA (2013).
- List of Permitted Food Additives, Health Canada (2023).
- Bob’s Redmill, What is Tapioca Flour & Where Does it Come from? (2022).
- O’Donnell, K., & Kearsley, M. W. (2012). Sweeteners and sugar alternatives in food technology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
- List of approved Emulfyers, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents, Health Canada (2023).
