Are ONE Bars Highly Processed? A Deep Dive Into Your Protein Snack

November 15, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a 2024 study, many protein bars on the market contain large amounts of ultra-processed ingredients. This leads many health-conscious consumers to ask: are ONE bars highly processed, and what does that classification mean for your diet?

Quick Summary

ONE bars are categorized as ultra-processed due to extensive manufacturing and ingredients not found in home cooking, such as protein isolates, vegetable oils, and artificial sweeteners. While offering high protein, this level of processing raises nutritional considerations for consumers.

Key Points

Ultra-Processed Status: ONE bars are classified as ultra-processed, as they are manufactured using industrial techniques and composed of highly refined ingredients.
Refined Ingredients: The core of ONE bars consists of protein isolates, sugar alcohols (like maltitol), and refined vegetable oils, which are not typical culinary ingredients.
High Protein, Low Sugar: While they offer a high dose of protein with low sugar, this nutritional profile is achieved through artificial means rather than whole-food sources.
Potential for Health Concerns: Research links high consumption of ultra-processed foods to potential health risks, including metabolic issues and overconsumption, primarily due to formulation, not necessarily the protein itself.
Not a Whole Food Replacement: The extensive processing strips away natural nutrients, meaning ONE bars should not replace whole food sources like nuts, seeds, and fresh produce.
Check the Label: Consumers can identify highly processed bars by their long ingredient list containing unfamiliar chemicals and additives.

Understanding the Levels of Food Processing

To determine if ONE bars are highly processed, it is helpful to understand the different levels of food processing. The most widely used system for classifying foods by processing level is the NOVA classification. This system places foods into four main categories:

Group 1: Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods. These are whole foods in their natural state, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and eggs. Minimal alterations like washing or freezing are permitted.
Group 2: Processed Culinary Ingredients. These are substances derived from Group 1 foods through simple processing, including oils, butter, sugar, and salt, used to season and cook meals.
Group 3: Processed Foods. Simple products made by combining Group 1 and Group 2 items, like freshly made bread or canned vegetables.
Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods. These products are made mostly or entirely from substances extracted from foods, often containing additives like artificial flavors, colors, emulsifiers, and stabilizers.

The Ingredients That Define a ONE Bar

An analysis of the ingredients listed on a typical ONE bar label provides a clear picture of its processing level. The ingredient list often includes complex, industrially-derived components that are hallmarks of ultra-processed foods.

Core Ultra-Processed Ingredients

Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate): Instead of using whole protein sources, ONE bars use isolates. Isolates are created through an industrial process that concentrates the protein while removing fats and carbohydrates. Whey protein isolate, for instance, undergoes additional filtering steps to achieve a higher protein concentration than whey concentrate.
Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (Vegetable Source): Often listed as a prebiotic fiber, this is an industrially produced carbohydrate that acts as a binder and adds texture.
Maltitol and Sucralose: To achieve their signature sweetness with just 1 gram of sugar, ONE bars use a combination of sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. Maltitol, a sugar alcohol, can cause gastrointestinal issues in some people, while sucralose is a high-intensity artificial sweetener.
Vegetable Oil Blend (Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil): These highly refined oils are used for texture and shelf-life, and are not typically found in home cooking.
Natural Flavors and Soy Lecithin: These are examples of additives used to enhance flavor and create a uniform texture, common practice in ultra-processed goods.

The Manufacturing Process: Industrial Intervention

The process of making a ONE bar is far removed from preparing food at home. It is a sophisticated, multi-stage industrial operation designed for mass production, consistency, and a long shelf life.

Mixing: Raw ingredients, including protein powders, fibers, sweeteners, and binders, are precisely weighed and combined in large industrial mixers to form a uniform, dough-like mixture.
Extrusion: The mixture is then pushed through an industrial extruder, a machine that uses heat and pressure to form the bar's shape. This process physically alters the food matrix.
Cooling and Coating: After being cut to size, the bars are often coated in a melted layer of chocolate or other flavoring. They are then passed through cooling tunnels to solidify the coating and set the final texture.
Packaging: Finally, the bars are individually wrapped and sealed to protect them and extend their shelf life, sometimes for years.

This entire process uses extensive modern food technology, which is the very definition of ultra-processing.

A Comparison: ONE Bar vs. Minimally Processed Bar

To illustrate the difference, consider a comparison between a typical ONE bar and a minimally processed bar, such as one made primarily from dates and nuts.


Feature	ONE Bar (Ultra-Processed)	Minimally Processed Bar (e.g., RXBAR)
Core Ingredients	Protein Isolates, Sugar Alcohols, Vegetable Oils, Artificial Flavors	Dates, Nuts, Egg Whites (or other simple whole food)
Processing Level	Intensive industrial techniques like extrusion, homogenization, and coating.	Minimal processing; simple mixing and pressing.
Sweeteners	Sugar alcohols (Maltitol), Artificial Sweeteners (Sucralose), Minimal added sugar.	Naturally sweetened by dates and other fruit.
Additives	Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavors, Stabilizers.	Typically very few to no additives.
Ingredient List	Long list of complex, industrial ingredients.	Short, recognizable list of ingredients.

Health Implications of Ultra-Processed Foods

Research has linked a high intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to several negative health outcomes. While ONE bars offer a convenient source of protein, they are not a substitute for whole foods.

Overconsumption: UPFs are often engineered to be highly palatable, triggering cravings and potentially leading to overconsumption of calories.
Lack of Micronutrients: The extensive processing of ingredients can strip foods of their natural vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds. Even if fortified, the nutritional value is not equivalent to whole foods.
Metabolic Effects: The rapid digestion of ultra-processed foods can cause quick spikes and drops in blood sugar, potentially contributing to energy crashes and further cravings.
Additives and Ingredients: The long-term effects of consuming large quantities of artificial sweeteners and emulsifiers are still being studied, and some individuals may experience gastrointestinal distress from ingredients like maltitol.

How to Approach ONE Bars in Your Diet

ONE bars can serve as a convenient, high-protein snack in a pinch. However, they should not be a staple in your diet or viewed as a replacement for whole foods. A healthier dietary approach involves prioritizing minimally processed foods and using ultra-processed options sparingly.

To identify less processed options, read the ingredient list carefully. Look for bars with a short list of recognizable, whole-food ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Avoid products with a long list of additives, artificial sweeteners, and modified starches. As the Harvard Health Blog notes, choosing foods with the shortest ingredient list possible is a good rule of thumb.

Conclusion

So, are ONE bars highly processed? Yes, they are. According to the widely used NOVA classification, ONE bars fall into the ultra-processed food category due to their industrial manufacturing process and complex list of refined ingredients and additives. While they are not inherently 'bad' and can provide a quick protein boost, they lack the full nutritional integrity of minimally processed alternatives. For optimal health, they should be consumed in moderation and supplemented with a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods. Making an informed choice by understanding food labels and processing levels is the key to balancing convenience with nutritional wellness.

For more information on understanding ultra-processed foods, you can visit the Harvard Health Blog: The best ways to identify processed foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

ONE bars are considered ultra-processed because they are made from industrial substances like protein isolates, refined vegetable oils, and artificial sweeteners, rather than whole foods. The manufacturing process involves industrial techniques like extrusion and homogenization, further altering the ingredients from their natural state.

Not necessarily, but it raises nutritional considerations. Ultra-processed foods are designed for palatability and shelf life, and often lack the nutritional complexity of whole foods. While ONE bars provide high protein, studies suggest diets high in UPFs may be linked to health risks. Consuming them in moderation is key.

The NOVA classification is a system used to categorize foods based on the degree and purpose of their processing. It distinguishes between unprocessed, minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed foods, helping consumers understand how their food was made.

ONE bars use artificial sweeteners like sucralose and sugar alcohols like maltitol. While they help keep the sugar content low, some individuals may experience gastrointestinal discomfort from sugar alcohols. The long-term health impacts of high artificial sweetener consumption are still being studied.

To identify an ultra-processed food, check for a long ingredient list containing items you wouldn't find in a home kitchen. Look for refined protein isolates, artificial sweeteners (like sucralose, maltitol), hydrogenated oils, emulsifiers (like soy lecithin), and other additives.

Yes. Look for bars with short, simple ingredient lists composed mainly of whole foods, such as nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Brands that use these minimal ingredients are often less processed.

Manufacturers use these ingredients to create a specific flavor profile and texture, offer high protein with low sugar, and extend the product's shelf life. This industrial formulation and production process allows for consistency and mass production.