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Audit Finds ‘Healthy’ Snack Bars High in Sugar, Fueling Push for Tougher UK Labels

Researchers say parents are being misled by sugar-heavy bars marketed as healthy.

Overview

  • Action on Salt and Sugar analysed 458 snack bars sold in 10 UK supermarkets and found 37% were high in sugar and 55% were high in saturated fat.
  • Nearly two thirds of products (64%) were classed as less healthy despite claims such as natural, high fibre or high protein.
  • Applying Chile’s stricter 10g added-sugar warning threshold, 68% of the bars would require a high-sugar warning label.
  • One example cited was an M&S Dark Chocolate Date Bar with 26.5g of sugar per serving compared with 12g in a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnut.
  • Campaigners called for mandatory front-of-pack warnings, tighter sugar limits and levies, while the government pointed to existing policies and no new measures were announced.