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CBS 2 HD Investigation: What's In An Energy Bar?

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Nov 6, 2008 9:43 am US/Eastern

CBS 2 HD Investigation: What's In An Energy Bar?

Americans Go Wild For The Seemingly Healthy Snacks, But The Jury Is Still Out On How Good They Are For You

Reporting
Kirstin Cole
NEW YORK (CBS) ― America's appetite for nutrition bars is exploding. From high-protein to low-carb and everything in between, we consume more than $800 million worth a year. But do you know exactly what you're eating? CBS 2 HD will show how 20 of these popular bars stacked up when put to the test.

After a tough workout Jennifer Abatemarco said she needs a little pick-me-up.

"Every day at four o'clock, I look forward to this, I eat my chocolate bar," Abatemarco said.

Not a chocolate candy bar but a chocolate nutrition bar.

"I'm content with that and don't feel the need to eat chips or cookies," Abatemarco said.

But how healthy can a chocolate nutrition bar be? Originally designed for maximum nutrition, these bars were first marketed to athletes as a convenient way to boost energy and replenish vitamins and minerals. Today, they're being marketed to everyone.

"I think these bars can be part of your everyday life if your lifestyle is such that you do grab a good breakfast, you're on the go, going to meetings, going athletic events," said Dr. Robert Gotlin, Director of Sports Rehab at Beth Israel Medical Center.

With a dizzying array of these products on the market experts said they're not always a better snack alternative and may not be as healthy as their name implies.

"In terms of calories, they're about on par with a candy bar," Dr. Todd Cooperman said.

Cooperman runs Consumer Labs, an independent company that tests the advertising claims of health and nutrition products. In the past his lab has found most bars to be mislabeled, with many containing undeclared carbohydrates. Now, in a new study Cooperman reviewed 20 popular bars for fiber, protein and fat.

"We're finding high levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar alcohols," Cooperman said.

According to Cooperman more than half of the fats in some of these bars -- particularly those high in protein -- are saturated. Saturated fat has been linked to health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. In some cases one bar contained three times more saturated fat than the recommended daily allowance.

"The problem with these bars is that if [consumers] rely on them and eat too many of them and think that we are getting healthy because we're eating a healthy bar, we then think we don't have to go out and exercise," Dr. Gotlin said.

Added Dr. Cooperman: "Thirty percent of the weight of this bar is sugar alcohol."

What's sugar alcohol? It's the sweetener added to keep the calorie count of these bars down. However, it can cause bloating, gas and diarrhea.

"The bars are certainly not created equally," Dr. Cooperman said. "You really need to know what you're looking for when you go out for these nutrition bars."

Overall, Dr. Cooperman's tests found all 20 bars met their nutrient claims in testing.

To see how Consumer Labs rated additional bars, click here.

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