Wednesday, May 13, 2015
In recent months, the FDA put the popular KIND Bars in the spotlight sending the snack bar maker a scornful letter requiring them to remove their 'healthy' labels. The FDA requires that a food item must contain less then 1 gram of saturated fat per servings in order to be labeled as "healthy". Four varieties of Kind Bars (Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot, Almond & Coconut, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants and the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein bar) contain more than 2.5 grams of saturated fat, despite being labeled "healthy." The FDA also took issue with Kind's use of the words "plus", "antioxidant-rich", "good source of fiber" and "no trans fats" stating that they don't meet the requirements for that labeling.
Although Kind acknowledged that its label doesn't meet the FDA's standards, they believe that the FDA is using a narrow definition of the word "healthy". "Nuts ... contain nutritious fats that exceed the amount allowed under the FDA's standard," the company said in a blog post. "This is similar to other foods that do not meet the standard for use of the term healthy, but are generally considered to be good for you like avocados, salmon and eggs."
Kind Bars is currently reviewing all labels in question and working with the FDA to comply with their request. So how do we feel about these nutty snack bars? TNT Health Educator - Stacey Gretka, shares her thoughts on the debate...
"I do like KIND bars and think they can be balanced into a healthy diet, but it is a fantastic reminder that any ONE food item really isn't "healthy" or "unhealthy," and that trusting the claims on packaging can be a risky move. Health is more a matter of how each item all fits into your lifestyle and daily intake. I urge my clients to enjoy what they eat and make conscious efforts to balance the food groups, sometimes that means a Kind bar can fit, sometimes it doesn't. This is precisely why one-size really does not fit all."
So we ask you...do you consider KIND Bars to be healthy? And will changes to the bar's labeling stop you from buying them?