Zone Perfect, Nutrition Bars, Chocolate Mint

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Zone Perfect, Nutrition Bars, Chocolate Mint scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup Solids): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Plant Proteins (Soy Protein Nuggets (Isolated Soy Protein, Tapioca Starch, Salt)): Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Milk Protein Isolate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Emulsifiers (Glycerine, Soy Lecithin): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavors): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Snack & Energy Bars, this product is more processed than about 65% of the 8,001 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Zone Perfect, Nutrition Bars, Chocolate Mint's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Stabilizers & GumsUPF marker

In this product: Guar Gum.

Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Chocolate Flavored Coating (Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Powder, Whey Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Chocolate Cookie Pieces (Wheat Flour, Cane Syrup Crystals, Canola Oil, Cocoa [Processed With Alkali], Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate); Less Than 2% Of The Following: Fructooligosaccharides.

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vitamin And Mineral Blend (Calcium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid [Vit. C], Magnesium Oxide, Dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate [Vit. E], Niacinamide [Vit. B3], Zinc Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate [Vit. B5], Ferrous Fumarate [Iron], Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vit. B6], Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin [Vit. B2], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vit. B1], Folic Acid [Vit. B9], Chromium Chloride, Biotin [Vit. B7], Sodium Selenite, Sodium Molybdate, Cyanocobalamin [Vit. B12]).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.