Are you eating candy in disguise?

4 out of 5 Americans read nutrition labels, and 80% understand what they’re reading, according to the NSF 2025 Consumer Survey. 

That's a huge improvement from the 1980s, when labels weren’t mandated, and only an estimated 20% of Americans understood the messy labels that did exist.

That said, labels can still be misleading.

Loaded labels

Many bars pack themselves with as many nutrients as possible –- powdered protein, vitamins, and additives (not you, fiber) – while trying to keep carbs and sugar low, all to manipulate the label. To make this ultra-processed concoction tasty, they need to add oils, alt-sweeteners, and the ever-mysterious “natural flavors.”

Others go flavor-first and mask bad-tasting protein and vitamin powders by literally pouring in sugar.

In both cases, these bars are compromising their better-for-you qualities in favor of manipulating their labels and improving taste.

They're turning into candy. 

Additive-free actually means no additives

Junebars don’t add anything. Our label is simply a list of what our ingredients contain. 

• Our sugar comes from the sweet potatoes and dates. 
• Our fiber comes from black beans. 
• Our protein comes from nut butters. 
• No powders, no additives, no poured-in sugar.

Our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Cherry Junebars contain 1g of added sugar because the dairy-free, soy-free chips we use contain coconut sugar. So it’s on the label. We don’t add any.

Next time you’re in the snack aisle, look beyond the numbers on the label. Think about how they got there. Look at the ingredients and question why they were used. You might be surprised by what you discover.

Want to dig deeper?

The Atlantic magazine wrote a great article on this topic called "The Protein Bar Delusion." Read it here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/02/are-protein-bars-candy/686099/