Key findings
- 1Industrial sweeteners (corn syrup, HFCS) appear before fruit in the filling ingredients
- 2The crust uses enriched flour; check the ingredient list rather than the name for whole grains
- 3A homemade fruit and oat bar achieves similar taste with 6-8 whole food ingredients
What goes into Nutri-Grain Bars products?
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars have ingredient lists that differ from what the product name might suggest. The filling is primarily corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and fruit puree concentrate, with the industrial sweeteners appearing before the fruit. The crust contains enriched flour, soybean oil, and multiple emulsifiers. Modified corn starch provides the gummy texture of the filling. Red 40 and Blue 1 appear in some varieties.
How 68 nutri-grain bars products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Nutri-Grain Bars brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a Nutri-Grain Bars label
- 1
The first filling ingredient is often corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, not fruit
- 2
The crust uses enriched flour, although the "Nutri-Grain" name may suggest whole grains
- 3
Modified corn starch, soy lecithin, and cellulose gel are industrial texture agents
- 4
Compare to a Larabar (2-3 ingredients) or a simple fig bar for perspective
Which ingredients should you watch for?
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Frequently asked questions
Are Nutri-Grain bars ultra-processed?
Of the 68 Nutri-Grain bars we score, 67 are Level 4 (ultra-processed) and 1 is Level 3. Their ingredient lists include high fructose corn syrup, modified corn starch, soy lecithin, and in some varieties artificial colors.
What are the ingredients in Nutri-Grain bars?
A Nutri-Grain Strawberry bar lists enriched flour, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fruit puree concentrate, soybean oil, modified corn starch, sugar, cellulose gel, soy lecithin, and Red 40, among others. Check the wrapper for the full list.
Are Nutri-Grain bars a healthy breakfast?
That is a question for a clinician rather than for a processing score. What the ingredient list shows: industrial sweeteners such as corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup sit among the primary ingredients. A piece of fruit or whole grain toast with nut butter is far less processed.
What is a less processed alternative to Nutri-Grain bars?
Larabars (dates and nuts, 2-3 ingredients), simple fig bars, or homemade oat bars (oats, honey, butter, dried fruit) all offer similar grab-and-go convenience with far less processing.