Think!

Awarded a rating of 1/5 green leaves, the Think! Keto Protein Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, falls significantly short in offering a clean food option. This product is not organic, includes non-GMO ingredients, and features added sugars, specifically erythritol, which detract from its healthfulness. Moreover, the presence of natural flavors and a variety of oils such as peanut oil, palm kernel oil, and palm oil raise concerns due to their potentially harmful impact on health and the environment.

The ingredient list begins with a vegetable fat blend, which is a mixture of palm kernel oil, palm oil, and peanut oil. The inclusion of these oils is problematic because of their association with negative environmental effects, such as deforestation and habitat destruction, and potential health risks linked to highly processed fats. The protein blend consists of milk protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey protein isolate, which serve as the primary protein sources in the bar.

Erythritol, a sugar alcohol, is used as a sweetener. While it is a common ingredient in low-carb and keto-friendly products, it is still considered an added sugar and may not align with the goal of providing cleaner food options. The product also contains partially defatted peanut flour, peanut butter, chicory root fiber, peanuts, buttermilk, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, almond butter, sunflower lecithin, salt, tocopherols, and steviol glycosides. The presence of chicory root fiber and almond butter does offer some nutritional benefits, such as dietary fiber and healthy fats.

However, the use of natural flavors is another point of contention. The term “natural flavors” can encompass a wide range of ingredients, some of which may not be as natural as consumers are led to believe. This ambiguity and lack of transparency contribute to the low score awarded to the product.

The Think! Keto Protein Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, with its 1/5 green leaf rating, is not recommended for those seeking cleaner, more health-conscious food options. The product’s reliance on non-organic, GMO ingredients, added sugars, and controversial oils and flavors undermines its position as a healthy choice within the market.