Decoding Mott's Soft Baked Bars
Mott's offers a few different product lines that are marketed as fruit snacks, and their Soft Baked Bars are a popular option for school lunches and on-the-go snacking. While they boast an appealing, soft-baked texture and come in fruit-filled flavors, a deeper look at their nutrition facts reveals a more nuanced picture. These bars are made with applesauce and whole wheat flour, ingredients that sound wholesome. However, other ingredients on the list, like corn syrup, vegetable glycerin, and added sugars, indicate a higher level of processing.
For example, a Mott's Soft Baked Apple Streusel Bar contains 6 grams of added sugar per serving. While the company highlights that their bars contain "no high fructose corn syrup," this doesn't mean they are free of other refined sugars that offer little to no nutritional benefit. A single bar also provides about 3 grams of dietary fiber, which is a positive note, but this often comes from added fibers like chicory extract rather than naturally occurring sources.
The High Processing Concern
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has classified Mott's Chocolate Chip Soft Baked Bars as a "highly processed" and "unhealthy ultra-processed food". This classification is based on factors such as nutritional content, ingredient concerns, and the degree of processing. The EWG flags these foods because studies have linked their consumption to a higher risk of health issues, including heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. While Mott's bars are certainly better than many other sugary junk foods, they still fall far short of whole-food-based snacks in terms of overall healthfulness. The presence of refined oils like palm and canola, which can contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats, further contributes to their highly processed status.
Separating Fact from Marketing
One of the most common marketing angles for fruit snacks is their inclusion of "real fruit." Mott's prominently features this claim on their packaging, which can be misleading for consumers. While they do use apple puree or juice concentrates, this is not the same as eating a whole piece of fruit. In the production process, fruit is often cooked down and concentrated, which removes most of the water and natural fiber, leaving behind a more concentrated sugar source. The important context lost in marketing is that a concentrated fruit puree behaves very differently in the body than fresh fruit.
Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks: A Sweeter Story
It is also crucial to differentiate the Soft Baked Bars from Mott's other popular product: the Fruit Flavored Snacks. These gummy candies, while also made with fruit juice concentrate, are very high in sugar and are often considered a dessert rather than a snack. According to EWG, some varieties are 40% sugar by weight and have an added sugar listed as the number one ingredient. These snacks are even more highly processed and have fewer redeeming nutritional qualities than the baked bars.
Mott's Bars vs. Whole Fruit vs. Healthier Snack Bars: A Comparison
To understand the nutritional context, compare a Mott's bar to a fresh apple and a minimally-processed whole-food bar like a LaraBar. This table highlights key nutritional differences.
| Feature | Mott's Soft Baked Bar (e.g., Apple Streusel) | Fresh Apple | LaraBar Original Fruit & Nut Bars (e.g., Apple Pie) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Whole wheat flour, corn syrup, added sugar, applesauce, refined oils, various stabilizers | Apple | Apples, dates, almonds, walnuts, spices |
| Added Sugar | 5-7g per bar (varies by flavor) | 0g | 0g (sweetened by fruit) |
| Fiber | 3g per bar | ~4.4g per medium apple | ~4g per bar |
| Processing | Highly processed | Unprocessed | Minimally processed |
| Protein | 1g per bar | ~0.5g | ~4g (from nuts) |
Choosing Healthier Snack Alternatives
For those seeking genuinely healthy snacks, there are better options than highly processed fruit bars. Focusing on whole foods provides more complete nutrition, including natural fiber that aids digestion and regulates blood sugar.
Whole Food Snack Ideas:
- Fresh Fruit with Nuts: Pair an apple or banana with a handful of almonds or walnuts. The combination of natural sugar, fiber, and healthy fats provides sustained energy.
- Yogurt and Berries: A simple cup of Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries offers protein, probiotics, and antioxidants.
- Vegetable Sticks and Hummus: Carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers with hummus provide fiber, protein, and important vitamins.
Healthier Bar Alternatives:
- LaraBars: Made with a few simple, whole-food ingredients like dates and nuts, with no added sugars.
- That's It Fruit Bars: As the name suggests, these are just fruit, with no added sugars or preservatives.
- RxBars: Rely on egg whites, nuts, and dates for protein and sweetness, with a short, transparent ingredient list.
- Homemade Bars: Making your own bars gives you complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to use whole grains, dried fruits, nuts, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup sparingly.
Conclusion: Moderation is Key
So, are motts bars healthy? The verdict is that they are a convenient snack and a better choice than a candy bar, but they are not a truly healthy option, especially not as a regular part of a diet. They are highly processed, contain added sugars, and lack the nutritional completeness of whole foods. For individuals and families seeking optimal nutrition, Mott's bars should be considered an occasional treat rather than a daily staple. To truly support health, focus on snacks that are minimally processed and built from whole, nutrient-dense ingredients like fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Making informed dietary choices based on ingredient quality is essential for long-term health.
Visit the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for more information on ultra-processed foods.
