Sad news: Kind bars, the "healthy" snack packed with nuts and fruits, aren't actually that great for you, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The organization sent a warning letter to Kind telling the company to remove its "healthy" package label as it's misbranding.
The FDA targeted four flavors in particular—Almond & Apricot, Almond & Coconut, Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate + Protein, and Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants. Those bars have between 2.5 and 5 grams of saturated fat content, and 9 and 13 grams of total fat. To be labeled "healthy" by FDA standards, foods must contain 1 gram or less of saturated fat and 3 grams or less of total fat. (Appropriate reaction: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)
The FDA also took issue with Kind's nutrient benefit claims, calling out the bars' antioxidant, no trans fat, and "good source of fiber" labels among others. (There was unfortunately a pretty extensive list.) In just one example, the FDA explained Kind's "+ Protein" and "+ Antioxidant" wording is used incorrectly. "+" foods must have at least 10 percent more of your reference daily intake (the amount you're supposed eat each day that you see on nutrition labels) than regular foods. Kind's level of minerals and nutrients are too low to meet that standard.
Kind published a blog post addressing the letter and justified the high fat content. "Nuts, key ingredients in many of our snacks and one of the things that make fans love our bars, contain nutritious fats that exceed the amount allowed under the FDA's standard," it wrote. "There is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence supporting that nuts are wholesome and nutritious. 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." The company noted it's committed to working with the FDA "quickly to comply with its request to make the necessary changes." Kind bars risk being pulled from store shelves if they don't. Recipes will remain the same, the company added. "We couldn't be more proud of our snack foods and their nutritional benefits."
