As you stroll through the supermarket, the sheer volume of ultra-processed foods can be overwhelming. With new studies and health warnings constantly in the spotlight, making nutritious choices often feels like a daunting task. Many of these products are marketed as healthy, making it even harder for consumers to differentiate between genuinely nutritious options and those loaded with additives and preservatives.

This is where the WISEcode app comes in—a game changer for consumers. This groundbreaking app lets users scan or search for foods to quickly understand their processing levels, offering an easy path to more informed and healthier decisions. Not all processed foods are created equal, and with WISEcode, you can easily distinguish between those that are minimally processed, those that reach the super ultra-processed level, and everything in between, empowering you to make smarter choices across the entire spectrum of foods.

Today, we’re diving into the world of chocolate chip bars. We unleashed our marketing team across supermarkets nationwide and they used the WISEcode app to evaluate 35 of the most popular options.

The results are in! Discover which bars are champions of minimal processing and which ones might need a serious rethink. A key takeaway? Don’t rely on front-of-package marketing—it’s often misleading. Instead, let WISEcode guide you to the real story behind the label.

The Top 5 Least Processed Chocolate Chip Bars

• GOOD & GATHER Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Minimally Processed

• Bearded Brothers Chocolate, Minimally Processed

• TIE For Third Place

  • LARABAR Chocolate Chip, Lightly Processed

  • IQ Bar Chocolate Mint Chip, Lightly Processed

• TIE For Fifth Place

  • GoMacro Mocha Chocolate Chip, Moderately Processed

  • 88 Acres Chocolate Chip Blondie, Moderately Processed

Tied at the very top of our list are two impressive chocolate chip bars. Target’s GOOD & GATHER Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, a private label brand, shares the number one spot with Bearded Brothers Chocolate, both Minimally Processed.

It’s a remarkable achievement for Target, outshining many highly marketed brands by sticking to simple, whole ingredients without unnecessary additives or fillers. Bearded Brothers, born from two siblings’ mission to create an organic, nutrient-rich bar, stands equally strong, showing that minimal processing doesn’t compromise quality.

LÄRABAR Chocolate Chip and IQBAR Chocolate Mint Chip tied for third place with their Lightly Processed offerings.

LÄRABAR, owned by General Mills through its Small Planet Foods division, continues to thrive under the guidance of founder Lara Merriken, who stayed on after the brand’s acquisition in 2008 for $56 million. On the other hand, IQBAR, a Boston-based company, is making waves with its “ultra clean label” products designed for the brain and body, proving that thoughtful processing can lead to smart snacking.

Rounding out the Super Six least processed chocolate chip bars are GoMacro Mocha Chocolate Chip and 88 Acres Chocolate Chip Blondie, both moderately processed.

GoMacro, founded by mother-daughter duo Amelia Kirchoff and Jola Sonkin, has a heartwarming origin story—Amelia crafted the MacroBar™ recipe on their Wisconsin family farm during her battle with cancer in 2003. Similarly, 88 Acres was born from a health crisis when co-founders and couple Rob Dalton and Nicole Ledoux decided to create nut- and allergen-free bars and butters after Dalton experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction to nuts. Both brands are a testament to resilience, turning personal challenges into healthier snack options.

Excess Exposed: The Dirty Dozen

The Bottom 12 Most Processed Chocolate Chip Bars

• Quaker Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed

• Fit Crunch Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

• Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

• TIE For Fourth Place

  • Kirkland Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

  • Ready Clean Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

• TIE For Sixth Place

  • Power Crunch Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, Super Ultra Proc.

  • Sunbelt Bakery Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

• TIE For Eight Place

  • ProMix Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

  • think! Chocolate Chip Bar, Super Ultra-Processed

  • Quest Chocolate Chip Dough, Super Ultra-Processed

  • Nugo Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Super Ultra-Processed

  • No Cow Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar, Super Ultra Proc.

Leading the Dirty Dozen, firmly entrenched in the undesirable top spot, is Quaker Chocolate Chip, which is super ultra processed.

Owned by PepsiCo, Quaker has taken the crown for the most processed chocolate chip granola bar, a reminder that big brand names don’t always mean better choices when it comes to processing levels.

Coming in at #2 and #3 on this list that no company wants to top are Fit Crunch Chocolate Chip and Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip.

It’s a bit ironic given their brand names, as both of these bars are super ultra processed, showing that even products marketed as fitness-friendly and pure can be loaded with undesirable ingredients.

Tied for fourth place are Costco’s Private Label Kirkland Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip and Ready Clean Chocolate Chip.

The irony in the name ‘Ready Clean’ is hard to ignore—there’s nothing ‘clean’ about these bars. And buying these in bulk at Costco means you’re bringing home a massive amount of additives in a big box. 

Coming up next in the rankings are Power Crunch Chocolate Chip Cheesecake and Sunbelt Bakery Chocolate Chip, both landing in sixth place.

Despite their tempting names, these bars are heavy on the processing, securing their spots among the most processed chocolate chip bars in our review.

Closing out the Dirty Dozen of the most processed chocolate chip bars are ProMix Chocolate Chip, think! Chocolate Chip Bar, Quest Chocolate Chip Dough, Nugo Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and No Cow Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar.

Despite Nugo and No Cow being vegan brands, they still fall into the super ultra processed category, proving that even plant-based options aren’t always as clean as you may be led to believe.

This list is a stark reminder that when it comes to choosing snacks, it’s important to pay attention to what’s inside—not just the buzz words on the package.

With such a wide range of processing levels in chocolate chip bars, knowing what’s in your food is crucial. The WISEcode app empowers consumers to make informed choices by instantly revealing processing levels with a simple scan. Stay tuned as we continue to unravel the complexities of our food supply and champion healthier eating.

Full Rankings of Chocolate Chip Bars from Least to Most Processed

Minimally Processed

Tie - 1. GOOD & GATHER Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Min. Processed, 3

Tie - 1. Bearded Brothers Chocolate: Minimally Processed, 3

Lightly Processed

Tie - 3. LARABAR Chocolate Chip: Lightly Processed, 6

Tie - 3. IQ Bar Chocolate Mint Chip: Lightly Processed, 6

Moderately Processed

Tie - 5. GoMacro Mocha Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 7

Tie - 5. 88 Acres Chocolate Chip Blondie: Moderately Processed, 7

7. GoMacro Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 9

Tie - 8. Clif Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 10

Tie - 8. KIND Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 10

Tie - 8. Zbar Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 10

Tie - 8. Junkless Chocolate Chip: Moderately Processed, 10

Ultra-Processed

12. One Chocolate Chip Dough Bar: Ultra-Processed, 11

Tie -13 Cascadian Farms Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 12

Tie -13 Blake’s Chewy Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 12

Tie -13 Good & Gather Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 12

Tie -13 Ready Clean KIDS Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 12

Tie -13 Aloha Chocolate Chip Dough: Ultra-Processed, 12

Tie -18 MadeGood Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 14

Tie -18 Kroger Chewy Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 14

Tie -18 Honey Stinger Chocolate Chip Oat + Honey: Ultra-Processed, 14

Tie -21 Great Value Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 15

Tie -21 Kodiak Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 15

Tie -21 Annie’s Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 15

Tie -21 Perfect Bar Dark Chocolate Chip: Ultra-Processed, 15

Super Ultra-Processed

Tie -25 No Cow Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar: Super Ultra-Processed, 16

Tie -25  Nugo Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 16

Tie -25  Quest Chocolate Chip Dough: Super Ultra-Processed,16

Tie -25  think! Chocolate Chip Bar: Super Ultra-Processed, 16

Tie -25 ProMix Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 16

Tie -30 Sunbelt Bakery Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 17

Tie -30 Power Crunch Chocolate Chip Cheesecake: Super Ultra-Processed, 17

Tie -32 Ready Clean Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 20

Tie -32 Kirkland Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 20

34 Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 25

35. Fit Crunch Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 26

36. Quaker Chocolate Chip: Super Ultra-Processed, 28

In conclusion, navigating the supermarket aisles doesn't have to be a challenge fraught with confusion and misleading health claims. With the WISEcode app, making informed decisions about your food becomes not just possible but straightforward and convenient. Our evaluation of chocolate chip granola bars revealed a wide spectrum of processing levels, highlighting the importance of looking beyond marketing claims to the actual ingredients and processing methods used.

By utilizing WISEcode, you’re not just choosing a snack—you’re choosing to empower yourself with knowledge, aligning your choices with your health goals, and taking control of your nutrition journey.