Clif builders

Our green leaf rating for the Clif Builders Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavor with Caffeine is 2/5. This product is a protein bar marketed as a building block for active individuals. However, the ingredients list reveals several areas where the product does not align with the goal of offering cleaner food options.

The bar is not organic, which detracts from its clean food status. It also includes genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which some consumers may find concerning. The presence of added sugars, including cane syrup, cane sugar, and brown rice syrup, significantly reduces the product’s healthiness. These sugars contribute to the overall caloric content without providing substantial nutritional benefit.

Furthermore, the product contains potentially harmful additives. ‘Natural flavors’ is a broad term that does not specify the exact substances used, leaving consumers in the dark about what they are ingesting. Soy lecithin and glycerin, while commonly used in food products, are also considered additives and may not be desirable for those seeking pure and unprocessed food items.

The inclusion of oils such as soybean oil and palm kernel oil is another reason for concern. These oils are often highly processed and may have a negative impact on health. Specifically, palm oil production is associated with environmental issues, including deforestation and habitat destruction, which may not resonate well with environmentally conscious consumers.

Despite containing organic ingredients and being non-GMO, the Clif Builders Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavor with Caffeine bar does not meet the standards for a clean and healthy food product based on our criteria. The use of added sugars, harmful additives, and oils outweighs the positive aspects of this product. For a cleaner alternative, the product would need a significant overhaul of its ingredients, focusing on organic, whole food sources without added sugars or controversial additives and oils.