KIND lowers calorie count on nut bars per USDA research
KIND Healthy Snacks has adopted nutrition research led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), which found that whole nuts, such as almonds and cashews, contribute 19% and 16% fewer calories, respectively, than previously thought.
KIND Healthy Snacks has adopted nutrition research led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), which found that whole nuts, such as almonds and cashews, contribute 19% and 16% fewer calories, respectively, than previously thought. Despite the calories decreasing, the nutrition profile of nuts, including those in KIND’s products, remain the same. Given whole nuts are the leading ingredient in its nut bars, over 95% of KIND’s nut bar portfolio was impacted.
According to the research, this is due to the way in which our bodies digest the fat found in these nuts. “The concept behind this is ‘bioavailability,’” explains the USDA in a press release from 2018. “For example, while an ounce of almonds has approximately 160 calories, not all of those calories may be used by the human body. This is the idea of ‘bioavailability.’”
For a century, the standard way of measuring calories has been the Atwater system, but, according to USDA Researcher David Baer, it is inaccurate when it comes to nutrient-dense foods like nuts. “Nuts remain a nutrient-dense snack, but the number of calories provided in a single serving has been grossly miscalculated,” said Baer, in the KIND press release. “Our findings suggest a more accurate representation of calories, and food companies using nuts in their products will be able to provide clearer information to the public.”
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