Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
Published
Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate is a granola bar made mostly of wholegrain oats, with a little real dark chocolate. It scores [L]CB4: nutrition is middling, ingredients lose points because a chocolate flavouring is listed while the real chocolate sits fourth, and risk is high because of the sugar. Fine as an occasional snack on the go, not an everyday one.
Ingredients, decoded
11 listed- Wholegrain Rolled Oats (56%)
- Sugar
- Edible Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Sunflower Oil)
- Dark Chocolate Pieces (7%)
- Cocoa Mass (51.6%)
- Sugar
- Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin)
- Natural Flavouring Substance: Vanilla
- Cocoa Powder (1%)
- Honey
- Salt
- Molasses
- Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin)
- Raising Agent (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Natural Flavouring Substance: Chocolate (0.1%)
5½ teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 26.9 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 475 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7.7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63.5 g |
| Total sugars | 26.9 g |
| Added sugars | 22.1 g |
| Dietary fibre | 7.7 g |
| Total fat | 19.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 3 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 272 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
Mostly wholegrain oats, but 26 g sugar per 100 g
A granola bar built on wholegrain rolled oats (56%), sugar and high oleic sunflower oil, with dark chocolate pieces (7%), cocoa powder (1%), honey and molasses. Each 42 g pack holds two bars, and it is sold as an on-the-go snack for hiking, cycling or a desk drawer.
One 42 g pack gives 200 kcal, 3.2 g protein and 3.2 g fibre, with 11.3 g total sugar, of which 9.3 g is declared as added. Per 100 g that is 475 kcal, 7.7 g protein, 7.7 g fibre, 3.0 g saturated fat and 272 mg sodium. The oats bring the fibre; the sugar, honey and molasses bring the sweetness.
The name and front promise oats and dark chocolate. The oats are real and lead the list. The dark chocolate pieces are real too, but they are only 7%, and a separate chocolate flavouring (0.1%) is listed as well. That flavouring named for chocolate, with the real chocolate not in the top three, sets the [L] flag. CleanPlate scores it [L]CB4.
Does Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars live up to its claims?
The wholegrain oats claim holds at 56%, and no colours or preservatives are listed. The oats and dark chocolate promise is misleading because a chocolate flavouring is listed while real chocolate is only fourth, at 7%.
- On the packMisleading
“Oats & Dark Chocolate”
Real dark chocolate pieces are in the list at 7%, but a chocolate flavouring (0.1%) is listed as well, and the real chocolate is not in the top three ingredients.
- On the packHolds
“Made with Wholegrain Oats”
Wholegrain rolled oats are the first ingredient at 56%.
- On the packHolds
“No Colours Added”
No colour is listed. The brown shade comes from oats, cocoa and molasses.
- On the packHolds
“No Preservatives Added”
No preservative is listed. Sodium bicarbonate is a raising agent and the lecithins are emulsifiers.
- Retail listingBe careful
“Oil and sugar in the ingredients”
The retailer page shows canola oil and brown sugar syrup, the pack shows high oleic sunflower oil and sugar. The pack list is the one used.
Why Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars scores [L]CB4
Nutrition is a C on 7.7 g protein and 7.7 g fibre per 100 g. Ingredients are a B, held back by the chocolate flavouring. Risk is a 4, driven mostly by 26.3 g free sugar per 100 g.
Adequate nutrient density
- Protein
- 7.7 g
- Fibre
- 7.7 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 475 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why C
Protein is 7.7 g per 100 g and fibre is 7.7 g, mostly from the wholegrain oats. In one 42 g pack that is 3.2 g protein and 3.2 g fibre. Protein credit is limited, so the grade stays in the middle.
No vitamins or minerals are declared, so nothing else lifts it.
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Good, few concerning additives
- Base
- Wholegrain Rolled Oats
- Main fat
- Edible Vegetable Oil
- Sweeteners
- 3 types
- Additives
- 1
- Flagged
- None
02 Ingredient integrity: why B
The list is short and mostly recognisable: oats, sugar, sunflower oil, dark chocolate pieces, cocoa powder, honey and molasses. No hydrogenated fat is listed, no colour and no preservative, which keeps this grade up.
Natural flavouring on its own and lecithin each cost ingredient points. The bigger cost is the label: a flavouring named for chocolate is listed at 0.1% while the real dark chocolate pieces are not in the top three, which sets the [L] flag and costs ingredient points.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 22.1 g
- Sodium
- 272 mg
- Saturated fat
- 3 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
03 Load risk: why 4
Free sugar is the biggest driver at 26.3 g per 100 g. Honey is listed and its sugar is not in the declared added-sugar line of 22.1 g, so it is counted on top. Energy (475 kcal per 100 g) is the next largest part.
Sodium at 272 mg per 100 g adds a little, and saturated fat at 3.0 g per 100 g is under the 5 g high line. Trans fat is declared as 0 g.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High added sugar (22.1g per 100g)
Green flags
- +Green flag: High fibre (7.7g)
What's in Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
Wholegrain oats lead, followed by sugar and sunflower oil. The sugar sources and the chocolate flavouring are what to watch.
The ingredient list, read for you
Wholegrain rolled oats (56%) lead, so the bar is mostly oats, followed by sugar and high oleic sunflower oil as the binder. Dark chocolate pieces (7%) are made of cocoa mass (51.6%), sugar, soy lecithin and vanilla flavouring. Cocoa powder (1%), honey, salt, molasses, sunflower lecithin, sodium bicarbonate and a chocolate flavouring (0.1%) finish the list.
The pack says it contains oat and soy, and may contain almond, peanut, rye, wheat, barley and spelt.
Ingredients to watch
- Chocolate flavouringConcern
A natural chocolate flavouring (0.1%) is listed, and the real dark chocolate pieces come fourth at 7%. This sets the [L] flag and costs ingredient points.
- Sugar, honey and molassesConcern
Free sugar is 26.3 g per 100 g, about 11 g in one 42 g pack. Honey's sugar is counted on top of the declared 22.1 g added sugar.
- Flavouring and lecithinWorth watching
Natural flavouring and the lecithins (soy in the chocolate pieces, sunflower in the bar) each cost a small ingredient point.
- Wholegrain oats and fibreFine
Oats are 56% of the bar, giving 7.7 g fibre per 100 g and 3.2 g per pack.
- Saturated fatFine
3.0 g per 100 g, under the 5 g high line, with no hydrogenated fat listed.
What it doesn’t have
- No vitamins or minerals are declared on the panel.
Who should eat Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
An occasional snack for most adults and children, and rarely for anyone managing blood sugar, since a pack has 11.3 g total sugar.
- Most adultsOccasionally
26.3 g free sugar per 100 g, about 11 g in a pack.
- ChildrenOccasionally
11.3 g total sugar in one small pack.
- Diabetes or prediabetesRarely
9.3 g added sugar per pack plus honey and molasses.
- Active peopleOccasionally
200 kcal of portable energy, but only 3.2 g protein.
Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate is a granola bar made mostly of wholegrain oats, with a little real dark chocolate. It scores [L]CB4: nutrition is middling, ingredients lose points because a chocolate flavouring is listed while the real chocolate sits fourth, and risk is high because of the sugar. Fine as an occasional snack on the go, not an everyday one. Nutrition C, ingredients B, load risk 4; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
Per 100 g, Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars has 475 kcal, 7.7 g protein, 63.5 g carbohydrate, 19.4 g fat and 3 g saturated fat. One serve (1 pack, 2 bars, 42 g) has 200 kcal and 3.2 g protein.
What are the ingredients in Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
11 ingredients, in label order: Wholegrain Rolled Oats (56%), Sugar, Edible Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Sunflower Oil), Dark Chocolate Pieces (7%) (Cocoa Mass (51.6%), Sugar, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavouring Substance: Vanilla), Cocoa Powder (1%), Honey, Salt, Molasses, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Raising Agent (Sodium Bicarbonate), Natural Flavouring Substance: Chocolate (0.1%).
Does Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars live up to its claims?
5 claims checked: 3 hold, 1 needs care, 1 is misleading. "Oats & Dark Chocolate" is misleading: Real dark chocolate pieces are in the list at 7%, but a chocolate flavouring (0.1%) is listed as well, and the real chocolate is not in the top three ingredients. "Oil and sugar in the ingredients" needs care: The retailer page shows canola oil and brown sugar syrup, the pack shows high oleic sunflower oil and sugar. The pack list is the one used.
Who should limit Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars?
Most adults: occasionally. 26.3 g free sugar per 100 g, about 11 g in a pack. Children: occasionally. 11.3 g total sugar in one small pack. Diabetes or prediabetes: rarely. 9.3 g added sugar per pack plus honey and molasses.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars have?
Per 100 g, Nature Valley Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Granola Bars has 22.1 g added sugar, 272 mg sodium (about 0.7 g salt) and 3 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is high in sugar.
Last reviewed October 30, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 30 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 October 2026 | CB4 | v5.0 | First scored |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
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