Go Natural Choc Salted Caramel Bar
Go Natural Choc Salted Caramel Bar: independently scored 3.8/10 on Protein Score and 5.7/10 on Clean Score by ProteinScore.
4.9g protein per serve · 195 cal · 11.7g sugar · 160mg sodium · 40g serve.
Overview
This is a nut bar wearing a protein bar's costume. The combination of peanuts, almonds, chocolate and salted caramel places it squarely in the confectionary aisle in terms of flavour and sugar load, with the protein content feeling like an afterthought. At 11.7g of sugar in a single 40g bar, it's a sweet snack by any measure. The ingredient list tells the story. While peanuts and almonds make up 45% of the bar, the rest is a long roll-call of sugars, fats, and binders needed to create the "choc salted caramel" experience. The dark chocolate compound and caramel sauce are complex sub-recipes themselves, contributing to a total of 25 ingredients and seven additives. Compared with Go Natural's own Yoghurt Almond & Apricot Bar, this version has a slight edge, with 5.2g more protein and 11.3g less sugar per 100g. However, both sit far from the category benchmarks. With 12.3g of protein per 100g, it offers less than half the 27g category average, while its 29.3g of sugar per 100g is nearly triple the typical 10.6g we see in protein snacks. We'd file this one under "better than a chocolate bar." It's a glovebox snack for a sweet craving, but if you're looking for a product to meaningfully contribute to your daily protein intake, you'll want to look elsewhere.
Protein Score: 3.8/10
Stacked against the brand's Yoghurt Almond & Apricot Bar, this Choc Salted Caramel version offers a fraction more protein. Still, the 4.9g of protein in a 40g serve is minimal, earning a 1.9/10 and putting it closer to a standard muesli bar than a dedicated protein snack. The key number is the 2.5g of protein for every 100 calories, which confirms this bar isn't built for efficient protein delivery. You would need to eat five of these to get the protein of a single mainstream protein bar, which is impractical given the accompanying calorie and sugar cost. It lags the field for protein density. This isn't a bar for post-workout recovery or for anyone trying to hit a daily protein target. It's a nut-based snack with a hint of protein, making it a slight step up from a standard chocolate bar, but it's not a functional product for performance or satiety.
Clean Score: 5.7/10
The presence of preservative (202) and thickeners like modified starch (1442) in the caramel sauce points to the processed nature of this bar. With a total of seven additives and 25 ingredients, it earns a 4.2/10, sitting below the category average for ingredient simplicity. The ingredient list is longer than the typical snack we see, driven by the complex "dark chocolate compound" and "caramel sauce" components. These use vegetable fat, multiple sugars, and emulsifiers (Soy Lecithin, 471, Sunflower 322) to create a specific, shelf-stable taste and texture, moving it away from a whole-food snack. These additions deliver a consistent product with a classic confectionary mouth-feel. For shoppers who prioritise a shorter, more recognisable ingredient list, there are simpler bars on the shelf. This one suits those who don't mind the extra processing for the flavour payoff.
Wins
- Under 200 calories per 40g bar.
- Based on whole foods: 45% peanuts and almonds.
- Australian owned and made in Victoria.
Watch outs
- Only 4.9g of protein per serve.
- High in sugar, with 11.7g per 40g bar.
- Contains 7 additives including a preservative.
Ingredients
Peanuts (25%), Almonds (20%), Dark Chocolate Compound (19%) (Sugar, Vegetable Fat (Palm), Coca Powder (15%), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Salt, Natural Flavour), Caramel Sauce (17%) (Sugar, Water, Glucose Syrup, Inert Syrup, Milk Solids, Vegetable Fat, Salt, Thickeners (1442, 401), Emulsifiers (471, Sunflower 322), Mineral Salts (339, 500), Preservative (202)), Glucose, Coconut Palm Sugar, Puffed Rice, Inulin, Salt (1%), Natural Flavour.
25 ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Go Natural Choc Salted Caramel bar a protein bar?
- No, we wouldn't classify this as a protein bar. With just 4.9g of protein per 40g serve, it's more of a nut-based snack with some protein in it. For context, a dedicated protein bar typically contains 20-30g of protein. This bar's protein content is closer to that of a standard muesli bar. We'd consider this an indulgent snack, not a functional food for recovery or hitting protein goals.
- Is this bar filling enough for a snack?
- Yes, at 195 calories, it works as a snack to curb a sweet craving. The 45% nut content from peanuts and almonds provides some substance and texture. However, it's not designed to be a filling meal replacement or a post-workout recovery tool due to its low protein and fibre content. Think of it as an afternoon pick-me-up, not something to bridge a major gap between meals.
- How does this compare to other Go Natural bars?
- This bar is fairly typical of the Go Natural range we've analysed, which generally sits at the lower end for protein. Compared to the brand's Yoghurt Almond & Apricot Bar, this Choc Salted Caramel version has slightly more protein and less sugar. However, both fall well short of the category averages for protein bars, positioning them as flavour-first snacks rather than functional products.
- Is Go Natural an Australian brand?
- Yes, Go Natural is an Australian-owned brand. According to the brand, it was founded in Victoria in 1991 and its products, including this snack bar, are made in Australia. For more detailed information on their company history or full product range, the brand's own website is the best source of information. We have simply verified its Australian ownership and manufacturing.
- Where can I buy the Go Natural Choc Salted Caramel bar?
- This Go Natural bar is listed in the catalogues for Coles supermarkets. You should be able to find it in the snack or health food aisle there. While it's stocked by major retailers, it may also be available to purchase directly from the brand's website, which is worth checking for multi-packs or other flavours. Availability can vary by store location.