Fat, sugar and protein, oh my: Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has the not so skinny on energy bar choices
- Watchdog finds 90 per cent of the 38 bars it tested rated as ‘high sugar’ foods, with one containing more than the WHO’s daily recommended allowance
- Group warns bars should not be regarded as a convenient snack or meal replacement
After testing 38 energy bars and snacks bars – most of which were branded healthy – and reviewing their nutritional content, the Consumer Council on Thursday offered advice on how to pick the right bar for the right circumstances.
Energy bars are generally high in carbohydrates, which can be digested and absorbed quickly into the bloodstream to supplement body energy, but the council cautioned some are only recommended for those preparing for endurance events or high-intensity exercise.
Among the tested products, the Cookie Dough bar from Pro Bar had the highest energy content, with each 290 kcal bar coming in at 2.3 times the Department of Health’s recommended calorie level per snack serving.
“An adult who weighs 55kg would need to walk for 90 minutes or run 38 minutes to burn the energy ingested from consuming one single bar,” said Lui Wing-cheong, vice-chairman of the council’s research and testing committee.
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He urged citizens to choose the right products according to the intensity and duration of their planned exercise, and suggested high-energy bars not be regarded as a convenient snack or meal replacement.
Parents should also take note that if schoolchildren consumed energy or snack bars between meals, their appetite for the next main meal could be greatly affected, he added.
The council also found that 90 per cent of the tested bars qualified as “high sugar” foods under Centre for Food Safety standards. The Chocolate Chip bar from Overstims had the highest sugar content – 53 grams per 100 grams.
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That level also exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended daily intake of 50 grams. Lui warned that excessive sugar intake could cause health problems in the long run.
The council also studied the fat content of the energy bars and found more than 30 per cent exceeded the Centre for Food Safety’s reference level for “high fat”, with the Hammer Nutrition bar leading the pack at 26 grams per 100 grams.
“Consuming bars with high protein or dietary fibre content may affect performance and even cause abdominal pain, as they are not easy to digest,” Lui added.
The council called on consumers to carefully read nutrition labels before making purchases.
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