Fiber One Chewy Bars – Oats and Chocolate is the first product I am officially placing in the FitnessMantra Product Review category. Although I have spoken about other products earlier, this is the first one I am officially reviewing.
Disclosure: I was sent one (1) box of five (5) bars to try and then present a product review on FitnessMantra. You can be assured that my reviews will always be unbiased, irrespective of whether I purchase the product or receive it to review.
Product: Fiber One Chewy Bars – Oats and Chocolate
Manufacturer: General Mills
Presentation: Single-serving bars, individually wrapped and labeled with Nutrition Facts and Ingredients
Serving Size: 1 bar (40g)
Allergy information: Contains Soy, Milk, Almond, Peanut, Sunflower and Wheat ingredients
Nutrition Information: Here is the nutrition label information for Fiber One Chewy Bars – Oats and Chocolate scanned directly from the box (this is FitnessMantra; you had to know this was coming!):
Positives:
- Visually, the bars are very appealing: they are cream in color with little chocolate pieces and make an appealing visual stimulation (even a wavy chocolate line across the bar for effect!)
- Calorie-wise the bar is perfect for a snack (it has 140 calories with 35 calories (less than 1/3 of total – the ideal number) from fat)
- As far as taste goes, you might not even realise it before the bar is gone (chocolate has that effect on people!). The bars are soft, chewy (yet not all that sticky although it is winter now and you might not want to leave these in your car during summer!) and great on the taste buds.
- Although the primary source of fiber is chicory root extract (chicory is a plant more famous for the use of its leaves as a flavoring agent for coffee) and you might expect a bland taste, the other ingredients mask this taste and make it enjoyable to eat.
- Of course the biggest selling point of the bar: fiber, fiber, fiber! Now a single bar has 9g of fiber which accounts for about 35% of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fiber of 25g. But you must realize that this comes at a cost of some pretty unhealthy ingredients which brings me to the …
Negatives:
- You already know I am a stickler for the ethical labeling of products especially Products that are labeled “Natural” so when I saw “Naturally Flavored” in bold across the top of the packaging you know where my eyes traveled to next: the ingredients list. And sure enough there were all the usual suspects: “confectioner’s shellac” listed as the second ingredient (meaning it is the second largest component by weight) contains hydrogenated coconut oil (and if not specified, this usually indicates “partial hydrogenation” – fully hydrogenated oils are usually labeled as “fully hydrogenated”). As always do not be fooled by 0g trans fat: manufacturers need not list trans fat quantities that are less than 0.5g.
- In the same vein as #1 above, note the two ingredients High Fructose Corn Syrup and its close cousin High Maltose Corn Syrup. These are about as natural as centrifuged, enzymatically-sweetened, genetically-modified corn can get! You know the truth: HFCS cannot truly be considered a natural product although some recent research suggests the body metabolizes High Fructose Corn Syrup similarly to sugar.
- With 10g of sugar this is not the best source of fiber for those with diabetic conditions. They are probably better off with the cereal version of this bar or other varieties like All Bran.
Alternatives:
What could you have instead of “Fiber One Chewy Bars – Oats and Chocolate” and still get your fill of fiber? Why, a whole-grain sandwich would do just great! Infact dab a little peanut butter and throw in some blue-berries (my all-time favorite breakfast right there) and you have yourself a nice combination of whole grains, fiber, protein and antioxidants. Granted it’s not as easy to put in your purse as the chewy bars but at least you know it’s good for you without potentially harmful ingredients.
Conclusion:
While they satisfy the primary selling point of being high in fiber and in fact do so without subjecting one to the usual bland taste that fiber-rich products are famous for, Fiber One Chewy Bars – Oats and Chocolate cannot be unconditionally recommended unless General Mills makes a few changes to the ingredients (lopping off the hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners would be a good start – after which the “Naturally Flavored” label will actually be truthful). When McDonalds and Wendys can agree to be trans fat free, I wonder what’s taking a company like General Mills, which strives to be associated with healthy eating, so long.
Eat the bars as a rare treat but don’t you, for even one minute, believe you can justify having these everyday as a “fiber food” – probably “candy bar” is a better term for them. Instead try yogurt topped with flaxseed or the whole grain sandwich – they are both satisfying and give you the fiber you need – naturally!
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I’m so glad I found this site! I actually bought the Wal-mart brand (Great Value: BeneFit), but the ingredients were very similar (same amount of fiber) including the chicory root extract, ethanol, and shellac). I had the Fiber One brand about two years ago and remembered the bad gas but was willing to try them again since they really do taste good. I’ve eaten one a day for the last three days (except today). The gas was bad each day, so I ate the second and third ones after noon each day in hopes to only experience the gas problems at home in the evening (instead of at work). Today (the fourth day), I didn’t eat one because I woke up this morning with diarrhea and cramps. I have NEVER experienced this kind of problem (except once…continue reading), and I always eat high fiber foods. About four years ago, I got sick (diarrhea and vomiting) from what I think might have been too many black beans that may not have been cooked properly. In other words, I have a hearty system. Today, I’ve had diarrhea at least six times (accompanied with cramps and pressure), and I’m worried that I’ll have to call in sick tomorrow for work (I’m a teacher and cannot simply leave my students while I run to the bathroom). I was worried that I had eaten some bad left overs in my fridge, but now I’m fairly sure that my problems are from the generic Fiber One bars (the chocolate oat kind).
I noticed there is no shellac or ethanol in the ingredients anymore (PR pressure, I guess). HFCS/HFMS are still there, but frankly, I don’t worry about it in one item when my diet is extremely healthy and full of natural foods overall. I also don’t have any GI troubles from these anymore, although I did in the first month or so. My body has adjusted to them, and I never eat more than one per day (OMG to the person whose roommate ate 5 in a sitting – that would kill me!). I truly feel less hungry on days when I eat them, which has really helped me maintain a big weight loss.
Oh my! My poor little 7 year old son has been hooked on these for about a week (Grandpa brought a box over and left it open in the kitchen). The little guy has been having bad diarrhea the whole time! I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him…he’s not really sick, in the normal sense, and no one else in the house is having gas or diarrhea (we haven’t been eating the bars). I finally started to wonder if it could be the bars, I did a Google search and found this page. OMG!!! I think it’s criminal that they’d put a product out there that would make people, including little kids, sick! Yuck. The rest of the box is going straight in the trash!
Thanks for this overview of the Fiber 1 Bars… I, too, thought they were totally wonderful until I read the actual ingredients yesterday (hence, I’m scoping out the web today to find out how many people have been permanently embalmed by this stuff).
In a world where it’s difficult, at best, to eat healthy – the last thing we need are “health” foods with shellac and ethanol as ingredients.
OMG! I have never had gas this bad in all my life! My husband was about to take me to live at the local Zoo! My stomach gets so bloated I can’t even button my pants…even my sweat pants are tight. It is just awful! These need to be called ” Fart Bars” and you should only use them if you want to play a joke on someone. I’m glad about this site, I thought I was dying…NO MORE FOR ME!!
I knew these things tasted too good to be true!
OMG! I am soooo glad I found this site to see that A)So, THIS is the problem! and B) A lot of folks had this reaction. I like to ride my bike and if I am in the saddle for at least an hour, I eat a bar like this. My wife bought these so I tried them. It has taken me a week or two (last bar, full box) to figure this out! An hour or so after the ride, I had cramping, gas and then darn near explosive, gassy diarrhea. I came back from the store and had my buns clamped together so tight, waddled rapidly to the toilet (much to amusement of the family) and was relieved. THe solution is simple…I will stop eating them.
I bought the Oats and Caramel version of the fiber one bars and had some yesterday. For the rest of the night I was getting up to go to the bathroom with horrible bowel pain and severe diahrea. I dont know what it is in these bars but it does NOT agree with me. They taste and smell great though.
I fell in love with these wonderfully tasting fiber filled beauties. I’ve laughed out loud at all the fart stories I’ve read. Yes, I’ve googled today because of the severe, violent gastric reaction that occurred while at work. Pooping one’s pants at the lunch table is definitely not worth the great taste and high fiber.
Is this something I could use as a weight loss solution?
WHEW! I’m so relieved that I’m not the only one experiencing gas, bloating and cramping! I have eaten 1 bar in the morning for the past 4 days, and it’s been SOOO embarrassing at work! I emailed GM to ask if anyone else had complained of gas, then Googled “does chicory cause gas?” and got this site. I too, purchased a 30 box at Costco, and I’m returning it tomorrow, with a printout of all the comments on this webpage, just in case they don’t want to let me return it. On second thought, maybe I’ll just mail the rest of the bars to my evil sister-in-law! BWAH HA HA
Hello,
I am glad I found this review and to read most of the comments here. I feel that I am not alone.
Holly cow, these bars ripped my husband’s tummy BIG time!!!
I bought these bars, a box of about 30 bars of “Oats and Chocolate” Because my husband decided to take home made lunches to work just to save money. So we went on a grocery trip and buy wholesale stuff.
It took about a week and a half to see these Gassy and cramping, PLUS diarrhea!!! effects. I had them first. I started to feel bloated, then deep cramping in my lower abdomen… I suspected it was the bars, so I stop eating them. But didn’t really felt that I needed to warn my husband about it, I thought it was just me (that was last weekend).
Three days ago, my husband had big time gas, cramping and along came diarrhea. The worst of all, he spends most day at work in an office with coworkers, and he felt so uncomfortable to be holding his gas! Not mentioning his repeatedly trips to the bathroom. He went up to 8 times that day. Poor thing.
Hi just asked me to google the bars to see if there are some complaints. And to my enlightenment i found what I was suspecting. Although I was not really looking for the nutritional factors which by the way I found very interesting in this post! I found that it was the bars that were making us feel so miserable, specially my husband.
The bars are very good tasting so he ate them daily. We thought the fiber bars were a good choice. But they didn’t work for us.
Maybe they are good once in a while, but for an everyday snack, they are a no no. I feel so bad for my husband… He is still recovering from his burning.
I hope this can be helpful for those who are thinking on eating them.
thanks for this great Post FitmessMantra
well i have tried the oats and honey fiber one and I have ‘THE FARTS!’ I found this website and have been reading comments and laughing my butt off. My bar didn’t have shellac, but something in it is def causing intestinal air bubbles.
I was just wandering if Charmin & or Scott tissue companies might be secret co-sponsers along with GM.
Think of all of the potential if these “gas bars” were used as fund raisers. More sales, oh my !!!
These give my hubby the worst gas ever!
I have had a positive experience with these bars. I eat 2 a day (one in early afternoon, one in mid afternoon), with a bottle of water with each one. My appetite has gone way down, I feel more full, and I eat a lot less at meals. I have lost weight, and I have more energy. I do have some gas, but not a lot. The positive far outweighs the negative. I now buy these by the case from Amazon!
Toni, your comment made me laugh very hard. I’ve experienced gas too with the fiber one bars! hahaha I have an evil brother who i may send a box of fiber ones to.
I have always had a problem with being regular. No matter what I tried, nothing seemed to work for me. I added fiber in every way possible. Fiber One bars have been a GODSEND for me! Not only do they make me completely regular, they fill me up for hours AND I’ve lost weight. I cannot stress how much they have helped me. It may not work for everyone and I, too, can read a nutritional label, but I can’t recommend OR fave about them enough!!
Ok, read about all the gas…
I had one a couple of hours ago.
Delicious!
I have had no gas, no bloating, no cramps. Feel great.
Like a poster above, I find no mention on anything like “shellac” in the ingredients, so I guess they are no linger using it.
Health-wise, no, the product is not perfect, but not so bad either.
Good product, for me.
Wow so glad I found this. I had 2 bars the other day and literally was up all night with the most bloating I have ever had in my life. About 25 minutes go I had one bar and I have that pain all over again. What the hell is wrong with these damn bars!
I am really surprised by all the gas and bloating stories. I eat one of these almost daily and I never have a problem – but I tend to have a higher fiber diet so maybe I am used to it. I suspect if you have a low- or no-fiber diet it might be a shock to the system.
After reading this review, I am reconsidering my commitment to the bars due to the sugar content. But they are really are tasty and convenient snack and, compared to other options, a healthier alternative.
I bought a box before jumping on a long train ride to visit my girlfried. As it was all I had to eat, I ate the whole damn box. By the end of the trip, it was the most embarrassing train ride I’ve ever had and, by the end of the weekend, my girlfriend almost broke up with me. Whooooo-eeeeee. Never again.
lots of these commments were funny and I am sure I am very behind seeing that it is 2010. It sounds as if the ingredients have changed but these all seem like very SEVERE results. I have tried them and yes experienced a bit of gas ha ha but they are a great source of fiber and like one of you said about 50 comments up, its easier to eat one of these instead of a prune, bean, and broccoli sandwich. I’ll take the not healthy ingredients for the 9 grams of fiber. 90% of you sound like a bunch of whining ninnies. And for some of you who had the serious problems, I am sorry for your complications! And for the gas problem comments!!! I am now convinced that potty humor is the best humor. Thanks for the laughs.
DO NOT EVEN BOTHER TO TRY THESE. Even though they look and smell great, they case severe gas and bloating. For a whole day I had stomach cramps and whenever I went to the bathroom literally PISSED OUT MY BUTT. Definatly NOT a good experiance. Don’t be fooled by the “great nutrition” factor!
Looking at the first two ingredients I can see why it could give someone gas. Chicory root extract and whole grain oats both contain soluble fiber. One of the side effects to soluble fiber is gas. In other words, the 9 grams of fiber in Fiber One Chewy Bars is almost all if not all soluble fiber, thus it will give just about anyone gas.
Whole grain breads generally contain insoluble fiber. Same thing with many Fiber One cereals. Flaxseed, like chicory root extract and whole grain oats, contain soluble fiber. Eat enough flaxseed in one setting and you will have the same problems.
I’ve been eating the Fiber One Oats & Chocolate bars for several years now and am totally shocked at much of the commentary here. I am highly susceptible to sugar alcohol and have no reaction from these bars. I’ve eaten several in one day and had no kind of reaction. As a diabetic, I use them for my single carb serving snacks and as desserts. I’ve probably consumed close to 600 bars by now and am just getting warmed up!
they taste great, but i ate 1 bar and almost shit my pants! lol…. just kidding, they taste great and no gas whatsoever… 3 a day. don’t know what i’d do without them… a days worth of fiber right there. 12 grams of fat… less than 450 calories. can’t beat it!
There is additional information at http://www.steviainformation.info, which may be helpful.
Nobody is offering a solution. Has anybody tried beano??
It’s also critical to note that General Mills has changed some of the ingreidents since 2007. A lot of these complaints are unfounded if you read the ingredients they are missing high fructose corn syrup, etc. Still not completely great, but they are good for a solid snack. I have used these for a year now and they are helpful. Still not a complete solution to your fiber, but certinaly doesn’t help to use it as an alternative when you are looking for a change.
i ate one of these bars like a week ago and my stomach hurt but i thought that it was just a bug or the 24 hour flu. so i ate the chocolate and peanut butter last night as a snack and i woke up this morning with UNBARABLE pain!!!!! i have NEVER had this pain! i could barley even lay in bed with my stomach growling and pain getting worse and worse! i thought it might be that i had to go to the bathroom, so i tryed all day to but i didnt have to go! some people say that it gets better in a week or so, but i DONT want to deal with this pain for a whole week!!!!!! this is crazy!!!! i litrally wanted to go die thats how bad the pain was, i dont know why these bars do this but i will NEVER eat them agian or suggest them to anyone!!!! they are going in the trash!!!!
i used Stevia extract as a sugar substitute because i am diabetic. Stevia is really sweeter than sucrose.~.’
i ate one a day foor about 2weeks and gained 5pounds i was so upset and i am on a low calorie diet so these were kinda a treat for me but they really are not good for you and that sucks
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