ALDI – YOGHURT HILLCREST MUESLI BARS
15 min reading time
ReAL FOOD RATING
Price
$2.49 / 6 bars
Where to Buy
ALDI Grocery Store
MANDY'S TAKE
“This muesli bar might look wholesome with its “wholegrains” and “fruit” claims, and even carries a 4-star Health Star Rating, but a closer look reveals an ultra-processed product loaded with sweeteners, synthetic additives including emulsifiers and preservatives, and other industrial ingredients. The yoghurt drizzle isn’t real yoghurt — it’s mostly sugar and hydrogenated palm oil. The so-called “strawberry pieces” are made from fruit concentrates and flavourings. While it’s cheaply priced and contains some fibre, it resembles confectionery far more than a genuine 4-star health food, and it’s not something we’d recommend for children or anyone trying to avoid ultra-processed foods.
Products in the AVOID category may look nutritious, but they often contain Class 4 additives and ultra-processed ingredients linked to gut, behavioural, and metabolic health concerns.
The fact that this bar earns a 4-star Health Star Rating shows just how broken the system is. It rewards added fibre and wholegrains, while turning a blind eye to the industrial sugars, oils, and additives that simply don’t belong in a child’s diet.”
RATING BREAKDOWN
NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
- Contains 49% wholegrains (oats, rye, wheat)
- 1 tsp of sugar per bar (lowish for this category)
- Yoghurt coating is mostly sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, and emulsifiers and 0.2% yoghurt powder
- Five separate forms of sugar — glucose syrup, sugar (twice), and invert sugar (twice) — a classic case of sugar stacking to inflate sweetness while keeping “sugar” low on the label.
- Polydextrose, used here as fibre (5.9g per 100g), is a synthetic filler that may cause bloating and interfere with mineral absorption — not a substitute for real, food-based fibre.
- The emulsifier 492 (sorbitan tristearate) has been flagged as a risk, especially for children, who can easily exceed safe intake levels due to its presence in many processed foods.
- Contains sulphites (220 and/or 223), linked to asthma, behavioural changes, and neurological effects. EFSA data shows children consume up to 12 times the safe limit — a major concern for developing bodies.
- Strawberry pieces are mostly made from concentrated apple and pear purée with added sugars and colouring from elderberry fruit concentrate.. Contains 1% strawberry puree.
NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Natural colours (not artificial)
Limited whole food ingredients beyond oats
Contains glycerine additive
Fibre partly from extracted chicory root
Colours: Natural
No Artificial Colours: Win!
WHO'S IT FOR?
- Babies & Toddlers
- Kids
- Teens
- Adults (limit wherever possible)
- Contains wheat
- Contains soy
- Contains dairy
BETTER OPTIONS
- Homemade oat bars with nut/seed butter and fresh fruit
- Date-based fruit and nut balls with no added sugar
- Mini bliss balls or banana-oat muffins for lunchboxes
MAKE IT YOURSELF
Want a healthier alternative? Try a homemade version!
“These use healthy and nutritious ingredients” – Mandy
Check out the Recipe
Frozen Yoghurt Granola Bars
Fuelling playful adventures with these delightful Frozen Yogurt Granola Bars! Packed with goodness and a hint of sweetness, these bars are not just a treat for the taste buds but a
Watch the Reel
THE VERDICT
This bar may appear fibre-rich and wholegrain-based, but its use of hydrogenated oils, stacked sugars, sulphites, and synthetic additives makes it one of the most ultra-processed muesli bars on shelves. It’s cheap, yes — but it can come at a cost to children’s health. A classic case of budget food that sacrifices nutritional integrity.
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