Children's Snack Bars Report

While we set out to congratulate a healthier snack bar alternative that lives up to its marketing claims, we simply couldn't find one among the 21 products identified as a suitable option for children. Every product identified by parents was high in sugar, and over two thirds of the products contained moderate to high levels of fat.

Snack bars, whether they be cereal or fruit based, should only ever be consumed occasionally, and are definitely not suitable everyday lunch box items for children.

We used criteria from CHOICE to assess levels of fat, sugar and sodium. As in the tables below, red equals high, amber equals moderate and green equals low levels.

Suspect: Kellogg’s LCMs, Rice Bubble Choc Chip

Brief:
LCMs have long been promoted as the sure fire lunch box hit, with TV ads depicting school children shunning their more wholesome lunchbox items in favour of the tasty treat. Based on puffed rice breakfast cereals Coco Pops and Rice Bubbles, LCMs also claim to contain the goodness of rice and no artificial colours. 

Investigation report:
LCMs may contain the goodness of rice, but they also include the ‘badness' of excess sugar and saturated fat, and an insignificant fibre content. In fact, one LCM contains more fat, sugar and sodium than a Milky Way bar (12g). The top three ingredients of an LCM are sugar, or contain sugar, with four other variants of sugar appearing further down the list. 

Rosemary Stanton:
"This product should not be recommended as a regular lunch box food. It has very little dietary fibre and contains a harmful level of saturated fat. Worst of all, it has as much sugar as many types of confectionery, making it a disaster from both a dental and nutritional viewpoint."

Verdict:

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Suspect: Nature's Way Kids Smart bars, Chocolate

Brief:
Featuring the tagline growing healthy kids, Kids Smart bars can be found in the health food aisle because they're wheat and gluten free. The packaging also states that each bar is less then 7% sugar DI(Daily Intake), free from gluten and wheat, a good source of fibre and suitable for kids on the go!

Investigation report:
The implied health benefits of Kids Smart chocolate bars simply do not stand up against the nutritional profile. It may be found in the health food aisle, but that's only because the product is free from gluten. Kids Smart bars are comprised of 20% sugar and contain more fat and saturated fat than an Arnott's Iced Vovo biscuit.  

Rosemary Stanton:
"This bar quotes percentage daily intake (%DI) but omits the fact that these figures relate to adult's daily intake, not a child's. The fact that the ingredient list contains over 20 items tells you that there are too many added ingredients to make up for a fundamental lack of nutrition in these bars. Kids who need a gluten-free product deserve better."

Verdict:

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Suspect: Nestle MILO, original variety

Brief:
MILO bars are touted as being wholesome and nutritious, asource of fibre and goodness for the inside. Featuring an ‘approved for schools' stamp and depictions of teenage skaters on the box, MILO snack bars are directly promoted as a suitable fuel source for kids and teens on the go. 

Investigation report:
MILO bars are by no means a nutritious choice for kids and teens, even those with greater energy requirements, as the bars have a 30% sugar content and moderate fat levels. The approval by at least two Australian school canteen associations paints a positive picture of MILO bars that unfortunately does not stand up to their nutritional composition. The extensive list of ingredients suggests that these bars are far from being a wholesome and nutritious fuel for growing bodies. 

Rosemary Stanton:
"If you're after fibre, there are many foods that will supply it without all the sugar and saturated fat. MILO drink is sugary enough to start with, so these snack bars with even more added sugar are just another dental hazard. There are more nutritious ways for kids to get their energy."

Read what Nestle had to say here (PDF 314kB).

Verdict:

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