MILO ORIGINAL BARS SCHOOL LUNCHBOX SNACKS
ReAL FOOD RATING
Price
$9.00/10 - 210g
Where to Buy
Major Supermarkets
MANDY'S TAKE
“Despite its sporty branding and familiar name, the original MILO Bar is far from a real food snack. It receives a 4-star Health Star Rating, yet it’s built on glucose, invert sugar, maltodextrin, refined oils, and synthetic additives like sorbitol (420) and added flavour — all red flags for ultra-processing. While it contains some fibre and protein, these benefits are overshadowed by a long list of industrial ingredients and sweeteners. This is confectionery disguised as fuel, and the high Health Star Rating only highlights how easily the system can be manipulated. Not a bar I’d recommend for children or anyone aiming to eat real, minimally processed food.”
RATING BREAKDOWN
NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
- Source of fibre (2.2g per bar)
- Includes wholegrain wheat flour (22%)
- Sweeteners listed 9+ times
- Glucose, maltodextrin, sugar, invert sugar, sorbitol - some of the sweeteners listed
- 18.8g of sugar per 100g - moderate/high - (1 tsp per 31g bar)
- Multiple ultra-processed additives, includingmodified starch, humectants and emulsifiers
- Refined soy oil
- Only 1.1g pf protein per serve
- Added 'flavour' - undisclosed
- Chicory root fibre and synthetic additives used to boost Health Star Rating
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 (limit wherever possible)
- Teens (limit wherever possible)
- Adults (limit wherever possible)
- Adults (why would you | limit wherever possible)
- Contains wheat
- Contains soy
- Contains milk
- Contains gluten
BETTER OPTIONS
- Homemade chocolate bliss balls made with oats, dates, cacao powder, and nut butter
- Soft oat bars with mashed banana, shredded coconut, and cinnamon
- Mini muffins using wholemeal flour, grated apple, and eggs — no added sugar
- DIY snack bars with puffed brown rice, almond meal, cacao, and dates
MAKE IT YOURSELF
Want a healthier alternative? Try a homemade version!
“These use healthy and nutritious ingredients” – Mandy
Check out the Recipe
Chewy Choc Bites
These Chewy Choc Bites are the ultimate quick, nutritious, and delicious snack for the whole family! Made with wholesome ingredients like Medjool dates, peanut butter, brown rice p
Watch the Reel
THE VERDICT
The original MILO Bar is built on ultra-processed sugars, refined oils, fillers, and additives like sorbitol and flavouring with only a small amount of actual wholegrain. Despite its 4-star Health Star Rating, it offers little in terms of real nutrition. This is a heavily engineered, confectionery-style bar that shouldn’t be marketed as a healthy option — especially for children. There’s nothing here that justifies its health halo.
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