Fiber One Chewy Bars - Oats and Chocolate: FitnessMantra Product Review

Have you actually looked at the All Bran Bars you seem to think are better? They also contain partially hydorgenated oil, high fructose corn syrup and actually have more sugar than the Fiber One Bars. You should look at the Fiber One oats & peanut butter bars. They have slightly less sugar, no hydorgenated oil, and are labeled “naturally and artificilly flavored” (so no false advertising).

Hi Lauren,

If you read my post carefully you’ll notice I mentioned “cereal version of All Bran” and not the All Bran bars. All Bran cereal does not contain trans fats but it does contain HFCS (though with total sugar in a serving limited to 6g it is not the worst thing you could eat).

As you have suggested, I will certainly look at the Oats and Peanut Butter variety as well.

Thanks,
-FM.

Wonderful, Fabulous. I’m on weight watchers & this is a great snack! I have recommended them to everyone!!

Hi FM ~

I really enjoyed reading the above review and found it to be very helpful. I didn’t realize that confectioner’s shellac contained hyd oils and I really appreciate your input on the prodcut!

I was wondering how the LA Weightloss Bars compared to these Fiber One bars. I am currently on the LA Weightloss plan and am trying to find an equal if not better alternative to their costly LA Light Bars. If you need the nutritional information and ingredients of the LA Lite Bars I can provide that for you. Thanks!

Hi Amy,

I’ll be happy to evaluate the LA Lite Bars (although it will be based purely on nutrition and ingredient information).

Please send me the details to fitnessmantra at gmail dot com.

-FM.

The Fiber One Bars are delicious!!! I love both varieties. Yes, I realize there are better ways to get your fiber but what you suggest is your value not mine. I am looking for good choices that are convenient and available in my extremely rural area. I am a Weight Watchers Lifetime Member and I too am going to suggest these to all of my WW friends!

I agree, the fiber one bars are delicious, but I also purchased a box of Kashi TLC cherry dark chocolate bars and they are equally as good, in my opinion. Not as sweet tasting, but they do not contain any hydrogenated oils nor HFCS and although they do not provide 9 grams of fiber, they do provide a healthy 4grams, 3 of which are insoluble and 1 which is soluble. I think these bars make a pretty tastey and healthy snack bar all around.

Thanks for the review of the Fiber One bars, I just bought 3 boxes,I was hoping they would make a great meal replacement, but I guess I’ll have to stick to the actual cereal to be healthier.

These bars are delicious much to my surprise but the horrible side effects of having a bloatin good time turned me off of them. Too much fiber for me. I tried them for like a week and I bet I went to the bathroom 3-4 each day. Whew!

I will say, I loved the Oats and Chocolate Bars, I did get lots of gas with it though. I purchased the Oats and Peanuts Bars and had a very bad reaction to them, I had hives and welts all over me and I am not allergic to Peanuts. Don’t know what happend. I was in a very serious situation though. Soo be careful with the oats and peanuts. My reaction started within 10 minutes of eating them. Thank God for Benedryle!

HAve you ever tried the oats & peanut butter? They’re even better! Just love these… & since I’m not a fruit eater, rely on these for my saily fiber intake.

Hi Chris,
Like I have mentioned in the conclusion section of the review above, I would strongly urge you not to rely on these bars alone to satisfy your daily fiber requirement since they are not all-natural as they claim.
Try to get fiber from some natural sources like fresh fruits and flaxseed as well.
Best,
-FM

As someone who normally eats a fair amount of fruits and vegetables, the little amount of “impurities” in these bars doesn’t really concern me. Moderation comes to mind.

On to the real problem with these bars… The gas… lookout folks!

I am on Weight Watchers and someone told us about these bars. I really do like them. But now I CAN NOT find them anywhere!!!
I live by Flint, Michigan if anyone could let me know where they have found them.

Thank you so much for the info! I am struggling with Weight Watchers and have found high fiber items help me, but if they are not convienent I won’t use them. Just not disciplined enough yet. I have been using all of the many Kashi bars and cereals, but getting a little tired of them, this makes an awesome surprise! They taste wonderful and have the satisfying chewy texture when you need that carb fix, but they are only 2-3pts for ww. Fortunately, I have increased my number of steps by my frequent trips to the bathroom due to the increase in flatulence, so start of slow! Don’t eat the whole box!!!

I think the Fiber One “Oats and Chocolate” bars are yummy! There will always be a more healthy alternative…heck we should all grow our own vegetables, process our own grains, and milk our own cows…but for the other 99.9% of Americans who don’t have this luxury, I think this is fairly healthy way to get the fiber that most of us may not get otherwise. And, with some chocolate on top, how can you go wrong! I have recommended these bars to all my family and friends.

I too am on weight watchers and was enjoying these bars until I saw that they contain shellac. Why do they need to put bug shells in our food? There must be an alternative to using that in our food..

I had a horrible reaction to the Oats and Peanut Butter. It was the worst cramping I have ever had in my life. It happened to my husband too. Neither of us have food allergies, so I have no idea why this happened. We ate the bars on different days, so we knew it was definitely the bars. Those things need to have a warning/disclaimer on them!

Response to Ellen….worst cramping in life due to Oats and PB Bars. The cramping more than likely was not a food allergy but from the fiber. If you are not used to a high fiber diet it will cause gas and severe cramping.

Today I ate my first Oats and PB Bar, and the taste and texture were really good. The reason I purchased these bars were because of the high Fiber. I have been having BM problems and was hoping this would help. I’ve also started taking Flaxseeds 3 days ago. I will let you know if I experience any cramping or gas!!!

After eating Fiber One Chewy Bars have terrible stomach ache. Read the ingreadients and found ethanol and shellac. Can these be good for you!!!

Hi Carol,
As I have mentioned, this product is not the best example of one with “natural” ingredients. The fact that the manufacturer is selling this product in the U.S. means the FDA has obviously decided these ingredients are not harmful to you (in the quantities used).
But whether they are actually good for you? Ah, now that is a totally different question and I think you already know the answer!
-FM.

Great tasting bars……..self and girlfriend both cheer their fiber content and they really
do the job with a cup of coffee. A bit of cramping due to increased gas..but worth it,
no need for laxatives. I like especially the
Peanut Butter ones.

Love the Oats and Chocolate bar. These are the only thing I eat that has HFCS in it. Maybe all of us who like them, but would like them to be healthier (No HFCS) should write to General Mills and request that they get rid of HFCS. I’m not worried about the schellac. It’s just bug spit. Kind of like honey. And it coats alot of different candies too. (also termed confectioner’s glaze)

When I first tried them I ate one every day. But yeah, the gas….phew! Now I use it for when I have an urge to eat a candy bar. Much better than a candy bar for you!

When I want an energy/protein bar I eat ones I made at home with barley syrup and honey.

And by the way, shellac is NOT the second ingredient. It’s Chocolate Chips WITH Shellac. So there really isn’t much shellac in the bars since shellac is used to COAT the chocolate chips.

Happy eating!

I can’t find a store that sells Fiber One (oats and chocolate). Where do I go? I would rather have it sweetened by splenda, but I love the taste. Wendy

My wife and I discovered Fiber 1 bars last week while on vacation in Tucson. They are delicious. I prefer the chocoalte. My wife prefers the peanut butter. That is our only difference. From there we had everything incommon. Gas, Gas, and more gas. On the plane yet!

I bought a few boxes when they were on sale and I also had coupons. I actually came across this website because I googled does chicory root extract cause you to have gas. I figured it was the Fiber One bars that were causing the gas from reading these post I think it is confirmed. I do not think I will buy these anymore because I have never experienced gas this bad.

Started eating these for the fiber content and my 26 year old son loves them too, but the gas problem is the biggest detriment to these Oats & Chocolate bars. They are delicious and one can easily eat 2-3 a day, but I recommend only 1 a day. I also thought they were only 1 pt on WW plan…maybe I am wrong???

Kashi TLC bars are also a good snack.

I found these recently in Costco (28 for $10) and decided to try them, even though I noticed they contained palm kernel oil. Anyway, I found eating just 2/day has improved bowel movements without any side effects. They make good snacks while out cycling, though I still mostly rely on Balance Bars for energy, this does provide some variety.

I LOVE THEM, THE CHOCOLATE IS GREAT!

The reason why Fiber One bars give people such terrible gas and cramping is NOT due to the fiber content. It is due to the FAKE sugars - similar to the effects of sugar alchohals which also create nasty side effects, diarrhea, and cramping (which often occurs if one tries to hold in their gas). Unfortionately, most consumers attribute these side effects to the fiber and not to the false advertising of the company.

If anyone has the ingredients of the LA Lite bars I would love to know. Thanks.

Hi Erika,

Amy sent me an image with the nutrition information and ingredients list for the La Lite Caramel Bars and here it is (please click the image to enlarge):

Click To Enlarge

In a quick review of the LA Lite Bars that I did for Amy, I wrote:

I took a look at the contents of the LA Lite Caramel Bars and I am shocked they are selling this for so much. And with 18g of sugar I am still wondering how this product can call itself lite! Palm oil and fructose only add to the bad ingredients list. Look at my review of peanut butter and you’ll see that although there is a little more fat it’s of the unsaturated (good) variety - and peanut butter is filling, nutritious and packed with as much protein as these bars.

Another healthful alternative is cottage cheese. A 4oz serving can pack in as much as 14g of protein depending on the brand and fat percentage and the best part is that there are low-fat varieties that taste quite good like Breakstone’s. another good thing is that the form of protein in cottage cheese is whey which is absorbed very well by the human body.

So I would stop eating the unnaturally flavored LA bars and stick to some natural solutions!

Hope that helps, Erika.

-FM.

I think they are delicious… but they AREN’T worth it… I had TERRIBLE cramping and gas after eating these. I didn’t know what it was and I realized it was the only item that really changed in my diet. So i quit for a while… then I just tried them again and the same thing happened… they can’t be good for you either with some of that stuff in it… Your body just can’t process certain things and therefore stores it in your body. ick… I wish they were good for you… and didn’t cause severe pain.

I can’t believe that it has been the bars all along. I, too, think that they taste great. I was a little concerned about the HFCS and Shellac, but still wanted an easy was to get more fiber. I have had severe gas and bloating…to the point where I don’t want to go to work. I even had a stool test to see if I had parasites or candida. I stopped eating the bars for one week…no gas. I ate one today, and got gas, diarrhea, bloating. Aweful. And now that I stumbled upon this site, I’m sure that it has been the bars all along. Thanks to all who have posted. I might have thought it was just a coincidence. Anyway, for me, the great taste is not worth it!

Thanks for confirmation for what I thought might be true. I was looking for convenient (cheaper) ways to get fiber (like Odwalla). I thought this stuff was too good to be true, and I guess it was. I will just stick with the good old-fashioned pb & j. I use an all-fruit jam and Orowheat Double Fiber. Are there ANY good bars for fiber?

I totally agree with everyone and their gas comments!!! OMG,totally not worth it!!!

WHOA! I purchased 2 boxes of the Firber One Oats and Peanut butter and have experienced CRAZY side effects of BLOATING, CRAMPING, GAS!!!!

I find this VERY UNUSUAL because I have eaten loads of the Fiber-One Cereal which is much higher in fiber content.

Could this be a reaction caused by the mix of ingredients?

I thought it was a fluke and had 2 bars yesterday. I felt like I was going to explode and had SEVERE gas for about 8 hours.

BE CAREFUL!

Has anyone sent a memo to General Mills (manufacturor)?

It is not the fiber! It’s the Ethanol. The comment from Julie above is spot on: “The reason why Fiber One bars give people such terrible gas and cramping is NOT due to the fiber content. It is due to the FAKE sugars - similar to the effects of sugar alchohals which also create nasty side effects, diarrhea, and cramping (which often occurs if one tries to hold in their gas). Unfortionately, most consumers attribute these side effects to the fiber and not to the false advertising of the company.”

Oh my gosh! I ate some of those bars last weekend and I had gotten absolutely the most terrible gas in years. I thought it was a fluke and maybe it was something else I ate, but after eating a couple of those bars again today, same thing! Horrible constant gas that has been going on for 6 hours now! I’ll never eat another product by General Mills ever again. It pisses me off actually. It ruined my night last weekend. I went out with friends and was having a great time, but had to leave because extreme bloating set in and I was in pain. I had to leave and cut my night short because of that cheap General Mills crap that really isn’t even suppose to be digested by humans. It’s all about profits. They regard you people as nothing more than animals. They’ll feed you crap to make a dollar off of you.

I had the worst stabbing, cramping pains of my life the first time I ate one of these, but then I continued to eat them almost every day and was fine. So then I thought maybe it WASN’T the bars after all. Anyway, I went a few days without one and then had one again and felt like I was going to die (again). So, I’ve decided that since they’re not the healthiest thing on the planet, I don’t want to eat them EVERY day, but if I don’t eat them every day - well, the pain just isn’t worth it. Too bad, because they did taste really good.

I love these bars, but when I went to Stop & Shop this weekend, there was a sign saying that they had been discontinued. Does anyone know if General Mills has stopped making them or if Stop & Shop just won’t carry them any more?

I had terrible cramping & bloating for 3 days from Fiber One CEREAL, followed by severe explosive diarrhea for 2 more days. I’m afraid to even try the bars. In fact I was afraid to eat any cereal or fibrous veggies or fruit for a few days, surviving on potato soup and gatorade. I wonder if anyone else has had that experience from Fiber One cereal. All Bran doesn’t do that to me. I did like the taste of Fiber One cereal, but it’s definately not worth it.

Praise the lord for this site! I just ate a bar about 3 hours ago and have been making EMERGENCY trips to the bathroom for the past 20 minutes. As scary as the intense GI pain was the fact that I had NO idea why it was happening. After considering what I had eaten recently, I thought about the Fiber One bar and Googled Chicory Root Extract, but didn’t find anything that seemed to indicate that it would cause this kind of reaction. It makes sense that it isn’t the fiber, because I regularly supplement my diet with large amounts of fiber via Metamucil, but I’ve never had any reaction like this. YIKES! This product better be removed from the market soon or it will injure someone.

These bars (BOTH kinds, the chocolate and the peanut) caused such severe gas, cramping, and intestinal distress that I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I regularly eat a high fiber diet, so it’s not as if the fiber was a shock to my system…it’s the awful chicory root in this product that caused my pain - buyer/eater BEWARE!!!

On Weight Watchers a bar is only 2 points. So I’ve been eating two in the morning with coffee for breakfast. I have one around 8:30 and another around 10:30 so I’m not hungry before lunch. Only 4 points for half the day is great. But I’ve been wondering about the gas and I’m glad I happened to see this site. Well, back to oatmeal for me. I’ve eaten my last bar.

I haven’t laughed so hard in years! Don’t feel bad though - I’ve got you all beat. I ate an entire box of them (yes, all in one day). I had no problem with 2 in the morning and figured 2 more at lunch and 1 at supper was a bargain for all that fiber and so few calories. At 3:00 that afternoon the devil came to claim my soul. I believe at one point I actually felt my intestines convulse out of my body. I was unable to stand straight - let alone button my pants! My job entails heavy client contact, and uncontrollable flatulence is not an option. I had to make up some lame excuse to leave work early. I think moderation is the key here. If a Fiber 1 bar keeps you out of the snickers mini’s, then fine. Anything more than that - just go have a DQ Blizzard and get it over with!

I’ve experienced some of the same problems and have stopped eating the bars as of this morning. Just wondering though, I just started going to Weight Watchers and am losing at a snail’s pace even though I am staying within my points each day and haven’t added in the extra 35. I was eating one Fiber One bar each day. Could they be slowing down my weight loss? I’ve never experienced such poor weight loss before, but I never ate Fiber One bars prior to the past few weeks. Is there a connection? Thanks.

I suggest eating popcorn for fiber, or pumpkin. I too blamed the chicory root, I mean I eat a lot of fake sugar- the first time I had a bar I didn’t make the connection but then yesterday I felt so bad, and it was the only unusual thing I had- anyway, this site has given me quite a laugh gotta love google.

I have never posted to a website but I cannot stop myself. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I eat a very fiber rich diet(fruit and veggies) so I did not think it could have been the fiber in these bars. First I thought I was pregnant. Two pregnancy tests later I was sure that was not it and I was going to make a Dr. appoitment. I had not idea what it could be but I was sure it was deadly bad. Boy am I glad I found this site. (unfortunately, it was after I just ate a bar - after lunch snack!) At least, I know it won’t kill me.

Hello to everyone who has commented,
Indeed it’s with a mixed feeling that I read all your comments to my review of the Fiber One Chewy Bars. While I am sorry that so many of you have had a bad reaction to these bars, I am happy that there is was a place for you to find out/confirm what the real problem was.
I (like many of you) doubt that it could be the chicory root extract, but feel strongly that many of you have had a reaction to the artificial sweeteners in the bars. It is also possible that (for some of you) the sudden influx of high quantities of fiber may have been a problem.
I hope that the folks at General Mills are reading these comments and are willing to do something about the artificial flavors they infuse their products with. At a minimum they could stop labeling their products “All Natural”!
-FitnessMantra.

When I first started eating these I got gas, but I hadn’t been eating a very high fiber diet either. It has been a few month now and I alternate days between the bars and the cereal and I have no more gas.

Yes, they have some “unatural” ingredients. But lets be honest. This is a way for most people to actually get the fiber they need. A whole grain sandwich sounds fantastic, but unless it is a brocolli, bean, and prune sandwich, you are not going to get even close to 9 grams of fiber and if you do, you have gone well over the 140 calories these bars provide. Almost all processed food has something that is not great for us, but I am willing to trade that off for the time it would take me to prepare everything I ate. I suppose I could go live in the Artic because the air quality is better too.

I tried these Fibre 1 bars at a ww meeting and they were delicious. Where can we buy them in Ontario Canada? Thanks

I just sent General Mills an e-mail about the issue of intestinal discomfort. I will keep you updated as to their response.

Yes, these bars gave me soooooo much gas and pains that it was horrible. Of course, I had to try them when I was out of town for meetings which made it that much worse. It is a shame since they do taste great, but it certainly is not worth the pain and embarrassment.

Here is the response from General Mills:

Thank you for contacting General Mills with your Fiber One chewy bars inquiry.
Some of the fiber comes from the oats and barley. But the main source of fiber in these bars is chicory root extract. This is also known as inulin. Inulin is a soluble fiber that occurs naturally in thousands of plants, including many that are part of common diets such as asparagus, artichokes, bananas, leeks, onions, garlic and wheat. Typically, the American diet has about 1-4 grams of inulin per day. The FDA recognizes chicory root extract as safe for use in food products.
The type of fiber is different and your body may be accustomed to the type of fiber in FiberOne cereal, which is an insoluble fiber. These fiber bars work differently in the GI tract and you may feel effects as you increase the soluble fiber in your diet from the bars.
The reaction you are describing may be due to the amount or type of fiber in this product. This especially may be the case if you are not used to eating a high fiber diet, specifically one high in this type of soluble fiber (chicory root extract/inulin). For most people, this reaction may subside in a few hours. Also, GI symptoms may be reduced as people continue to enjoy the product and their bodies adjust to this amount and type of fiber.
Fiber One is a high fiber cereal and, therefore, should be consumed in moderate amounts. As stated on the package, a one ounce serving is equal to 1/2 cup of cereal.
There are some individuals who have sensitivities to certain ingredients or combinations of ingredients. The ingredients for the product are listed on the package. In the future, you may wish to check this list to determine if a sensitivity to one of the ingredients has developed.
We appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention. You can be assured that our Quality Department has been notified of your report.
We hope you find this information helpful. Please let us know if we can help you again.
Sincerely,
Imee B. Roberts
Consumer Services

Like so many others I purchased a large box from Costco and started eating one for breakfast. Since I didn’t have one everyday it took about six days spent on the toilet before I finally made the connection.

I filed a complaint with General Mills and their reply is that “all of the ingredients are safe”. BULL ! ! !

I eat a high fiber diet so I know it’s not the fiber.

As soon as I am done with this posting I will be filing a complaint on this product with the FDA. The following web site will provide you with your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator’s phone number.

Maybe if only a small percentage of the people who have posted complaints here will coantact the FDA we can force General Mills to investigate the true cause of our discomfort.

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

Rich

FIBER BARS? FART BARS, WE CALL THEM!!
I EAT 1 CUP OF FIBER ONE CEREAL EVERY DAY AND NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEM. IF I ADD A FIBER ONE CEREAL BAR, OR TWO, LOOK OUT!!!
THEY DO TASTE GOOD, BUT EAT THEM ONLY IF YOU’RE ALONE. I ATE THREE ONCE BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE ANY TIME FOR BREAKFAST AND I HAD THE WORST GAS THAT LASTED 12 HOURS!!!!

We love your Fiber One Bars but please try making them without Hydrogenated Coconut Oil? They are a wonderful way to get extra fiber but no one needs the extra fat and especially that stuff.

Thanks a KaBillion!!

Hi, Everybody—
I was also looking up chicory root extract fiber because of having purchased these bars. I wanted to know of side effects and then remembered (when I read about the gas, bloating and running to the bathroom) that about 6 years ago, when my kitty was still alive, one of the dry cat foods—I think Friskies—came out with an improved version of the product and they had “Now With Chicory Root” all over the box. Not knowing then what I know now, I thought it must be a good thing. My kitty quickly developed unsatiable thirst and hunger and terrible diarrhea. I finally made the connection but it took a lot out of him and he was weak for a long time. I work at a health food store now and because of that and my own issues regarding chronic constipation have become somewhat of a connesseur of fiber. There are a few basics I’ve learned and here they are for what it’s worth: YES!—Please start slow! Don’t try to get 25-40 grams of fiber in one meal just so you can “get it over with”. PLEASE—drink plenty of water. That is, 8-10 glasses per day. That you should also start slow. Pace it out during the day and don’t try to get it over with in one or two gulps or you’ll just end up urinating a lot and feeling totally bloated and uncomfortable. High fiber without water to make it expand and move is lethal! And, here’s what for me have been the most important lessons—don’t necessarily listen to what the “experts” say. I got into a whole fiber-thing nightmare thinking I was doing the right thing and ended up in a big mess which cost me time and money and some of my good health. Luckily, I didn’t develop any serious problems but I’ve met people at work who have and still will not listen to reason. It took dummy me a long time to get the message that a lot of these “health food/natural experts” are out there trying to sell their own products. The health food industry has changed a lot and it is now big money. Read your labels and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Nobody else has your body. Sometimes—like for me—less is more. Too much fiber and too many vegetables just totally block me up. Huge amounts of salad cause putty-like built up deposits in the intestines and some people can’t expel them. Some people can’t digest certain grains or large amounts of them. Some thrive on huge amounts and varieties of them. It takes some work in finding out what is totally in YOUR best interest. Let’s face it—these bars are a “crappy” (ha, ha!) vehicle for a big dose of fiber. As for me, I’m tired of eating so many figs and oatmeal and think I need a little chocolate just about now. I tried one the other day. It tasted good although I’m not crazy about puffed rice and it didn’t seem to bother me. I will eat one occassionaly and alternate them with my Health Valley bars which are only slightly less toxic.

Dear RICH SWENSON—you’re already on a high fiber diet—why in God’s name would you want more!?

Dear RELIEVED—I know exactly how you feel!

Dear PAULA—Could be. I was eating less calories and more fiber and blocking up so much I actually gained some of the weight I had lost—about five pounds over 6 months. Now, that I backed off of so much broccoli, carrots, and oatmeal, etc and am moving my bowels more normally I started to lose again. Also, you sound like you’ve been a yo-yo dieter. There comes a time when diets don’t work like they used to. You might have to find something else.

Dear WENDY HAMILTON: You might want to rethink SPLENDA. Get some more info and not from their advertisements. It has bad side effects. Two of our customers developed numerous severe problems over prolonged and extensive use of the product.

Dear SMILIN’ EYES—You are so funny!

I agree—gotta love google! Life is good so use it wisely! ‘Bye!

I love the fiber one bars. I have turned 5 of my friends on to them. All the whinners out there need to chill out and enjoy a nice fart filled afternoon. The gas is killer!! I eat one for breakfast, one mid afternoon, and one before bed. I hope they dont discontinue them due to uptight people like on this page!!!!

OMG. I eat these every day so I can have hours of unending, smile-cracking gas. There is so much gas, you can’t help but laugh! A lot of times they don’t smell bad but boy are they loud! I work out at a gym and I play racquetteball with my dad and I fart, and it echoes loudly, and we laugh so hard we have trouble getting exercise! After weeks of eating these, I think I need to give my sphincter a break. Boy will I miss my hilariously gut-wrenching fart-causing friend.

I eat Fiber One cereal every morning but I will have to quit because I fart soooooo bad or I will be kicked off from work. It smells terrible. I think I’m gonna explode.

OMG, what a blessing finding this site, Yesterday I purchased a whole box at Sam’s and yes, the flavor is great, they don’t give me heartburn like the Quaker Oatmeal bars do (especilly the ones with chocolate chip)… boy they give me the worst acid reflux…. but this ones are not so bad!…. again, and just like everyone else… THE GAS…. Gosh!, I’m at work, and it is such a misery to hold it, you know, out of respect to your peers, but once I get to the restroom….. it better be EMPTY!.. that has been one of the most horrendous gas triggers that I have had, EVER! And don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the release if I am by myself,…. but most of the time I am not! so…………. yes, they are the culprit…. now what do I do… keep on gassin? (you know, with a whole box in the pantry) or give them away and have my friends hating me…? suggestions welcome!

I started breaking into hives shortly after including Fiber One bars into my diet. I went for extensive testing to find out what was causing the hives and do not have have any food allergies to peanuts, soy, wheat, etc. I eliminated the Fiber One bars for several months, and the hives did not recur during that time. I had a Fiber One bar yesterday, and one today, and broke into hives today, so I’m certain the Fiber One bars are causing them. Any idea why? Has anyone else without food allergies reported this reaction?

I bought a couple boxes because of the fiber content and WOW I hardly ever have gas, and I could not stop!!! My husband didn’t think it was funny after the first couple, but it was a sweet revenge! I thought that the gas would decrease as my body got used to the fiber, but nope!! I remember we went shopping one day and they would NOT STOP coming out, I tried to hold them in but it is not possible! We were standing in line and all of a sudden one shot out and the lady behind me def heard ahh it was so embarrassing I just kept talking to my husband..I would only eat these bars when constipated and when I know I do not have to go out into public..Just be careful.. I had not gone in awhile so I ate four and I woke up with HORRIBLE stomach cramps.. I felt like I was going to die.. but it did the job!

I think that there are healthier fiber alternatives. I think it helps to have fiber one cereal with skim milk, a few slivered almonds and some flax seed. I find that that cuts down on the ‘gas’ potential. To be honest, I never have problems of this kind.

If you’re not used to fiber, I think that what most nutritionists recommend is that you start off slowly and increase your intake each week. Going from little to huge amounts of fiber is going to have ‘explosive’ consequences.

Personally, I don’t understand why people are embarassed by gas. It’s natural. I mean, it’s not like you purposefully do it - it’s just a reaction of your body.

Oh my goodness, my husband and I bought these in bulk at Costco, lured in by the 35% fiber label. I ate one bar and was farting all day. He’s been eating two per day and he has the loudest and raunchiest smelling farts ever! We eat fiber one cereal with no problems, but these bars are smelling up my house. I found this site by googling “fiber one bars give you gas” and lo and behold, others are experiencing the same thing! I say eat some apples, bran cereals, drink tons of water, and stay away from these bars. The gas isn’t worth it! I had to hide them from my husband because he insists on continuing to eat them!

Thank you all! Saves me a trip to the Doctor. Thought I was dying, the gas was so bad. You know what they say “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is”

I too have tried the Fiber bars. I got gas just like everyone else, but I don’t have to worry about constipation. I read all the posted comments one day and laughed and laughed and laughed. Now I will probably just log in to have a laugh. Really the the fiber just helps us all work it out. I am lucky to work in an office by myself and my husband works evenings. I hope everyone has had as much fun with this web-site as i have. Love the taste of the bars. Anyway the guest doctor on Oprah says its okay to pass a little gas at least 14 times a day.

I tried a Fiber One bar for the first time Sunday night. Five minutes after I consumed the bar I suddenly became sick at my stomach. I laid back and a feeling I can only describe as a tidal wave came from my stomach up my body to my head and seemed to explode causing my ears to start burning! I had an immediate headache between my eyes and became unbelievably weak! I tried to grab my husband’s arm and could not lift my arm. I managed to tell him I thought I was going to faint! I did not faint, but my neck itched for quite a while. My nose, cheeks, neck and chest were flushed red until I went to bed. The next morning I tried to get ready for work, but was so weak I couldn’t finish my shower. I called in sick and laid on the couch all day weak and nauseous. My husband wanted to take me to the doctor, but I thought it was probably an allergic reaction and the worst was over. Although I have never had an allergic reaction in my entire life to anything! My husband said I was white as a ghost until late afternoon when I started feeling some better. I did go to work the following day, but was still nauseous and still had a headache between my eyes. I really do feel it was the Fiber One bars, because I had been feeling perfectly normal up until the moment I had finished eating it. I wish I knew which ingredient triggered such a strong reaction in my body! If I did I would strongly avoid it in the future!!

Stay away from these bars! They are soooo dangerously gassy! You’ll be sick to your stomach and the trips to the toilet will tire you out. These are great treats for a joke on your friends!

I am definitely glad I found this website, I had no idea what was causing the severe stomach pain and gas!!! I just threw away an entire box after reading all these posts, I wish I would have read this sooner.

I have to agree these bars do give you lots of gas! Luckily, all the girls in my office eat these bars so we are all being “musical” together. Although I have numerous food allergies and sensitivities, I haven’t had any trouble with these…other than gas. And 1 bar a day is definitely better than the 3 - 4 candy bars I was eating before on a daily basis. It seems that you don’t “adjust” to the increased amount of fiber. The longer I eat these, the greater the volume of gas becomes. I don’t mind too much because it’s just helping me catch up with my husband’s natural gassiness!

My boy and I love to eat these… We eat a couple, then fart all day long, we laugh, and laugh… and torture the girls in the house…lol, and laugh some more…

just checked online–apparently Stonyfield Farms’ products don’t contain inulin anymore! yay! I encourage everyone to try these products.
And watch out far that inulin!
Happy eating

It’s a love hate thing. First the fake out, rumbling in the stomach, think you are going to mess your pants, then the loud, smelly, hot fart. Wow, never had a problem before and i eat a lot of fiber. i’m going to try 1 every other day, i’ll keep you posted.

Did a search for “Fiber One bar give you gas” and found this website!

LOL

Every morning I have 1/2cup to 1 cup of Fiber One cereal and its really help control my hunger (8 to noon) on Weight Watchers. Never have I had problems with that product causing gas or cramps.

Lately, I’ve had chocolate “calling my name” and last evening I bought the box of Fiber One chocolate bars. Very good tasting, (I ate more bars than my points allowed).

Have to agree completely about the gas and cramping, WOW. Started thinking I might need medical attention, LOL.

Hate / love to hear about the strange ingredients. I’ll keep the bars around because now I’m much less likely to eat or overeat them, LOL.

Kinda like buying icky tasting cookies.

I love these bars and am very thankful for them, as I am also on Weight Watchers and something sweet and chewy, that’s only 2 points and includes 9 grams of fiber, is a very welcome addition to my diet. So I really want to clear up some myths here and avoid a bunch of complaints to General Mills that will spur them into discontinuing these delicious bars. For some of us, they’re life savers. Maybe not for all of us, but for some of us.

The ethanol (which is merely alcohol and the alcoholic ingredient in any alcoholic beverage you consume) in Fiber One Bars is in the confectioner’s shellac (it’s used to dissolve the powdered shellac) and although ethanol can cause gas, the little bit used to dissolve the shellac that’s on the few chocolate chips that are in a Fiber One Bar probably wouldn’t create enough gas to cause problems and it’s certainly not a dietary hazard.

Confectioner’s glaze or “shellac” is used extensively in the food industry as a natural sealer which improves the general appearance of the product, extends the shelf life, provides good moisture protection and stops the coated product from sticking together when packaged. Yes, it does come from a resinous secretion of a female beetle Lassifer lacca. But then, milk is a secretion from a female cow, so what’s the big deal? The secretion is bleached and dried, which results in an off-white, granular resin, which is then dissolved in solvent (hence the ethanol) before it is applied to the food. Confectioner’s shellac maintains its gloss in high-humidity conditions, doesn’t get tacky or dull, and adheres to lots of surfaces, so it’s used on most chocolate and other candy and numerous other food products. Won’t hurt ya.

As for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. It’s sugar, people. Just sugar. It’s highly concentrated, and cheaper than sugar, which is why food manufacturers use it. It takes a relatively small amount to sweeten a lot of food. If you can’t eat or have sworn off processed sugar, or all sugar, then you would consider HFCS to be “bad.” However, if you eat sugar - white, brown, raw, powdered, syrup, or whatever - then HFCS isn’t anything you’re not already eating. It’s just in a different form. Sugar and HFCS have essentially identical physiological effects.

So now that those nasty rumors are out of the way, let’s talk about gas. I did experience more gas than usual when I first started eating Fiber One Bars, but after about three weeks or so, it started abating. I still experience more gas than I previously did, but that’s to be expected when you go from a high-fat, low-fiber diet to the exact opposite. Also, I usually only eat one bar per day, occasionally two. Everything in moderation is, I believe, good advice. I about died when I read about those people who ate five bars in a day, OR IN ONE SITTING! My sister, however, who has suffered with IBS for a number of years, had such severe gas accompanied by extreme intestinal pain that she could not eat them. But then again, she eats an almost “0” fiber diet – no vegetables, very few fruits, lots of processed, packaged foods, etc., so 9 grams of fiber probably sent her body into shock. 

The gas is caused by the fiber, specifically the type of fiber, that is in Fiber One Bars. The fiber in Fiber One Bars is provided by chicory root. Chicory root is one of the most abundant sources of inulin. Inulin is a quick-fermenting, soluble fiber. It occurs naturally in over 36,000 plants, including many common foods such as bananas, broccoli, wheat, rye, asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks and Jerusalem artichokes. Due to it fermenting quickly, inulin can cause gas, sometimes extreme, and should be “gradually” added to your diet. When you consider that you’re getting 9 grams of fiber in a 40 gram Fiber One Bar (that’s almost 25% fiber), you’ll realize why some folks have gastrointestinal problems after eating them. Whether or not you’re used to a high-fiber diet, consuming a food that’s 25% fiber can be a surprise to your intestinal tract. Also, some people have more sensitive digestive systems than others. Having a stomach like iron, as I’ve read in several posts, doesn’t mean your intestines are of the same ilk, and that’s where the fermentation, and subsequent gas, occur.

As a side note, the carbohydrates in inulin are considered “prebiotics.” A prebiotic is a nondigestible carbohydrate that stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria (fermentation) naturally residing in the colon. These helpful bacteria are referred to as probiotics. Probiotic bacteria promote health by inhibiting the growth of harmful pathogens thus reducing the potential for infections. Other potential benefits of prebiotics may include the reduction of the risk of colorectal cancer.

So I, for one, am very happy to have Fiber One Bars available to me and plan on eating them regularly. I’m sorry for those of you who can’t eat them, but I would ask you to, please, just stop eating them and don’t spoil it for the rest of us by complaining to GM about the product. Just because you can’t eat them doesn’t mean there’s something wrong or harmful about the product.

When I first eat these fiber one bars, I too had huge gas problem! But after a couple of days, when my system became use to that much fiber it doesn’t affect me like that anymore. Take a gas pill and it will counter act the effect. The benefits I and my children get from these bars outweigh that side effect when you first start eating them! I eat these instead of the KASHI bars. GREAT PRODUCT.

My 9 yr old son ended up in the emergency room after eating one of these bars. He ate one and about 2 hours later was so doubled over in pain and white as a ghost. WE had no idea what was wrong with him. They gave him Maalox, and anti gas pills and zantac.
He did survive the incident and quit sounding like a tire that had sprung a leak.
I still eat them but would suggest not eating them if you have any acid reflux or heartburn problems.

I LOVE THESE BARS.

That said, I have a few comments in response to the preceding postings. While I admittedly did not take the time to read every single word in all 83 reviews, a few points did catch my eye, and I wanted to give my take on them.

1. GAS is a natural bodily function people! I remember in middle school my home-ec teacher said “everything that is good for you to eat will give you gas”. I thought she was full of hot air (pun intended) until I came into my own and realized the value of fiber. So while I agree that these bars do light the fires, I don’t think it’s necessary to quit eating them (or even worse, take your kid to the ER) over it. Most instances of severe gas and cramps, and explosive diarrhea, come from the shock of getting enough fiber. Most people get very little, and few get the recommended 35g a day. I had cramps and gas something awful after the first bar I ate, and had I not persevered, I wouldn’t be enjoying them more “regularly”.

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup IS NOT SUGAR! It is not good for you, nor should it be compared to sugar in any way other than in that it should be used in moderation, if at all. It is a chemical substance (not unlike others in these bars) that is not natural and not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. It’s 2008. If you don’t know that, then it’s time to crawl out from under that rock honey.

3. I agree with fitnessmantra in that these bars ARE NOT HEALTHY as a sole source of fiber. However, combined with a daily diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, they make a completely acceptable, if not occasional, snack and fiber supplement.

In conclusion, there will ALWAYS be something better, something healthier, something more natural. But as I have read several other posters mention…in the real world, we value convenience as well.

Thanks for reading.
AJ

I agree with Andrea, (posting 62). You have to get to know YOUR body and then listen to it. As for me, I can eat high fiber cereals and breads with no problems, but as soon as I add veggies and fruits (except citrus), then here comes the gas, etc. I have found that I have to have my fruits and veggies in the evenings (at home), so as not to suffer discomfort and embarrassment.

These bars taste great but they give me gas…alot of gas. My husband and I have started adding more fiber to our diet so we started eating these bars. I don’t have as much gas when I eat the peanut butter but the chocolate and oats gives me sooo much gas-about 6 hours worth. Great taste with a price!

I bought some as a recommended snack. I just finished the box after a week. With heart disease I can’t eat any more of these. I almost throw the box out after reading the ingredients, but they tasted so good for my morning snack. Back to fruit or a small bowl of oatmeal for my snack at work.

Gas, Gas, and more Gas. At least there was no smell!

Thanks to review #81… great information and well balanced review… “everything in moderation” right?

If you actually look at the chemical structure of sugar and sugar… then low and behold! They are the same thing! Wow!!
And HFCS=Sugar….. hmmmm.

I LOVE these bars, but they make you fart profusely! Buy some gas-x when eating these delicious bars. I love all flavors, they are all great! But you will stink someone out of house and home with the gas! lol

I love the fiber one chewy bars! DELICIOUS!! I would rather eat one of these bars than a candy bar. I am a huge fan of General Mills and,once again, they kick out another great product. Keep up the good work!

I’ve had the worst stomach ache for about 3 or 4 days now and at first I thought I had food poisoning…my stomach has been churning and the gas and cramping has been terrible. The thing is I’ve had food poisoning before but it always goes away after about 24hrs so after thinking about it I wondered if it could be related to these NEW Fiber One bars from General Mills I bought last week (the peanut butter flavor)? So I googled “fiber bars stomach ache” and it brought me here. The rest of the box is going in the trash. Oh, yeah…I to eat a fair amount of fiber regularly so I doubt it has to do with fiber shock to my system. There must be something in these treats that are making my body say “NOOOOO….TOXIC….No more please!!!”

Matt