Barebells Hazelnut & Nougat Protein Bar Review

Review and Concerns

I would compare this bar to Ferrero Rocher’s long lost relative with a questionable present. This protein bar surprisingly did remind me of a Ferrero Rocher type chocolate (so kudos to Barebell on that win) with its texture and presentation of chopped hazelnuts and chocolate coating covering the bar. It has a good balance of sweetness, moisture, crunch and chewiness, although as a whole, the bar leans more on the chewier and gooey side.

Compared to other bars that I’ve tried from popular brands such as Vega, One, Clif and Simply Protein, I noticed that this particular brand triggered and amplified sugar cravings that made me want to consume more than just one bar in a sitting. This was a relatively different response from my usual protein bar consumption and experience since I usually feel satisfied after having one bar so I decided to look more into the ingredients that may have triggered this response. One ingredient that stood out was Acesulfame Potassium, (also known as Ace-K, Acesulfame K or E950 [in Europe] ) which is a man-made, calorie-free sugar substitute commonly found in soft drinks, frozen desserts, baked goods and tabletop sweeteners. (1)

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Acesulfame is up to 200 times sweeter than table sugar. (2) Studies on lab animals such as mice have shown that long-term and chronic use of Ace-K, had unfavourable effects on these mice and has caused thyroid damage, brain function irregularities and cancer.

Summary

This protein bar definitely would have been on my top shelf had I not looked into this product’s ingredients. Due to the health risks the sugar substitute Acesulfame K (3) and my physical response of needing more than one bar to feel satiated, I would not recommend this protein bar. What a shame since flavour wise, it exceeded my expectations and was one of the best tasting protein bars I’ve consumed in a while.