By now, you’ve probably seen the Tweet storm between Clif and Kind, going to battle for not being organic or for having too much sugar. Spoiler alert: It’s a publicity stunt that has gotten fans of each brand a little riled up. The back-and-forth has also sparked conversation about labeling and ingredients, and what makes something healthy.
I’ve spent a lot of time reading food labels and trying to understand what they mean. Many labels are, unfortunately, not regulated and used for marketing purposes, meaning companies can call something “all natural,” for example, without it having to pass certain standards. And according to findings from Consumer Reports, 62 percent of shoppers usually buy foods labeled “natural,” despite not fully understanding what that label means.
For the record, a “natural” or “all natural” label means the product does not contain artificial ingredients or preservatives, and there is only minimal processing. The product can, however, contain antibiotics or growth hormones.
Best Folding Treadmills petition, asking the FDA to regulate food label claims so a manufacturer can’t say, for example, an item is high in protein without also disclosing how much sugar is in it.
Clif is organic, and that label is, on the other hand, very much regulated. A food is not organic if it has GMOs, additives or preservatives, pesticides, or if it uses a process called food irradiation, which gives foods a longer shelf life. But is organic healthier?
Not necessarily.
Foods that have some of the highest pesticide residue (one of the bigger concerns of non-organic foods) are generally produce, think fruits and vegetables. Clif Bars don’t contain fresh produce.
When Clif called out Kind for not being organic, the nut-based bar creators clapped back, saying it’s deceptive to try to pass off organic brown rice syrup as “healthy.” In reality, brown rice syrup is just a fancy word for sugar, and Clif Bars have double to triple (depending on the flavor) the amount of sugar content as Kind. This is because they are created to be fuel for moderate or high-intensity exercise, such as a long run or track workout, when you need the sustained energy that Clif Bars provide—not to just snack on when you’re lounging around.
Health & Injuries this study, Best Compression Socks, what?
Because of the way rice is grown—organic or conventional—it has arsenic in it, and brown rice has higher levels than white rice. So much for being healthy and always choosing brown rice, huh? That said, so long as you consume a wide variety of foods and not depend on rice as your only carb source, arsenic shouldn’t be a concern.
And let’s be clear: Aiming to go organic is not a bad thing at all; organic farming benefits both people by reducing persistent exposure to toxic pesticides and chemicals, and the planet, as organic farms uses less fossil fuel and is better for the soil, air, and water. It just doesn’t always mean the food is nutritionally “healthier.” In 2018, 76 percent of Clif Bar ingredients were organic, and that can have a positive impact on organic farming communities.
But because it’s expensive to source organic ingredients and then be independently accredited as organic, those costs are passed down to consumers. Not everyone can afford to pay organic prices, a point made loudly by Kind supporters.
Is Honey Better for You Than Sugar can claim is that many of their products (but not all of them!) are non-GMO. GMO stands for genetically modified organism, and it basically means that an organism’s DNA has been tweaked for a number of reasons, including higher resistance to weed control substances—glyphosate—or having the ability to kill off insects.
The short answer to, “Are GMOs bad for me?” is there isn’t a black-and-white answer. Sorry. There is mounting scientific evidence (some of it backed by companies who benefit from GMOs) that says GMOs are harmless, while opponents argue that GMOs are too new—they’ve only been around for about 20 years—to know for sure the effects of playing with an organism’s DNA.
At the end of the day, it’s important to read the food label, determine what your body needs, and fuel it accordingly. And then there’s my widely preached mantra: Everything in moderation.
If you need a quick afternoon pick-me-up, and you don’t have a workout planned, your best bet between the two options is a lower-sugar, lower-calorie snack like a Kind Bar, which is high in good-for-you fat from nuts. No, the ingredients aren’t organic, but you won’t be weighed down by the extra calories that come from brown rice syrup. For what it’s worth, Kind bars also include honey, sugar, and glucose, which are all forms of sugar, but they contain about 5 grams compared to about 20 grams in a Clif Bar.
If you have a long run planned and need quick fuel either before or during your workout, then grab a Clif Bar. Yes, it’s high in sugar, but your body needs that sugar to keep you moving.
As for me? I shy away from snacking on any kind (ha! No pun intended) of bar, which always has more sugar than I care to eat outside of an ice cream cone. My snacks are mostly nuts, cheese sticks, and homemade granola balls. But I’ve been known to grab a Kind bar at a rest stop on a long drive, even though I’d been eyeing the Milky Way.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner's World, the author of The Runner's World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:40 5K, and 5:33 mile.
