Is Junkless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing claims on the front of the package and go straight to the ingredient deck. For the Junkless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars, the primary concern lies in the Rice Crisp component. The ingredient list specifies that the Rice Crisp is made from Rice Flour, Sugar, Malt Extract, and Salt.

The term "malt" is the red flag here. Malt is almost exclusively derived from barley, a grain that contains gluten. In food manufacturing, malt extract is used to add sweetness and a distinct flavor profile, but it introduces gluten into the product. Because the Rice Crisp contains malt extract, the entire bar is contaminated with gluten and cannot be considered safe.

Furthermore, we must look at the Whole Grain Rolled Oats Blend. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are frequently processed in facilities that also handle wheat. Unless the oats are certified gluten-free (which this product does not claim), there is a high risk of cross-contamination from wheat during the harvesting and milling process. Combined with the deliberate addition of malt extract, the risk is too high for anyone with a gluten-related disorder.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these bars sit in a middle ground. They are not a "health food," but they aren't the worst option on the shelf either. Each bar contains roughly 130 calories, with about 5 grams of fat coming from the Canola Oil and Natural Peanut Butter. The protein content is modest, usually around 3 grams, which helps slightly with satiety.

The main nutritional concern is the sugar content. The bar relies on Cane Sugar and Brown Rice Syrup to bind the ingredients and provide sweetness. While brown rice syrup has a lower glycemic index than table sugar, it is still a concentrated sweetener. If you are monitoring your sugar intake for weight management or metabolic health, this bar contributes a significant amount of added sugar to your daily total without providing a substantial amount of fiber or micronutrients in return.