Depressing news for all you Kind bar fans: The popular nut and fruit snack, which bills itself as a “healthy and tasty” treat, is actually kind of not healthy at all.
According to a letter from the Food and Drug Administration to the makers of Kind, the bars “do not meet the requirements for use of the nutrient content claim ‘healthy’ on a food label” under the law.
“Your website states, ‘There’s healthy. There’s tasty. Then there’s healthy and tasty’ and ‘all of our snacks are pretty much the nirvana of healthful tastiness.’ In addition, your webpage for the Kind Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein product states ‘KIND Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein is a healthy and satisfying blend of peanuts and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.’ However, none of your products listed above meet the requirements for use of the nutrient content claim ‘healthy’ that are set forth in 21 CFR 101.65(d)(2).”
The FDA said the bars have too much saturated fat to justify the term “healthy,” and also don’t measure up to their “antioxidant-rich” claim. Bloomberg reports Kind is “moving quickly to comply” to edit its labels.
More disappointment for people who thought cheerfully labeled snacks and drinks (a la Vitamin Water) could actually make them fitter.