IQ BAR Peanut Butter Chip — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates IQ BAR Peanut Butter Chip by IQ BAR ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

A lab-formulated protein bar built for macros and marketing, not a whole food. Whole nuts lead, but isolated pea protein, tapioca fiber and starch, natural flavors, gum acacia and lecithin stack up into an engineered snack dressed as clean.

Why this verdict

• Roughly 18 ingredients, most past the nuts are refined isolates
• Isolated pea protein plus pea protein crisps drive the protein, not whole food
• Tapioca fiber and tapioca starch are processed isolates added for texture and net-carb math
• Gum acacia and sunflower lecithin form a stabilizer/emulsifier stack
• Stevia plus natural flavors engineer the sweetness and taste

Ingredients (16)

• Nuts (Peanuts, Almonds) (safe) — Whole nuts leading the list bring healthy fats, protein, and fiber.
• TAPIOCA FIBER (moderate) — Processed fiber and bulking agent that boosts the fiber count.
• Plant Based Protein Crisps (Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch) (moderate) — Engineered crunch: isolated pea protein bound with refined tapioca starch. Adds protein but is a fabricated component.
• Natural Flavors (safe) — Flavor compounds derived from natural sources.
• Pea Protein (moderate) — Second isolated protein; drives the 20g protein figure.
• Flaxseeds (safe) — Whole seed, omega-3 ALA and fiber. A genuine plus.
• peanut flour (safe) — Defatted peanut for flavor and a little protein. Peanut allergen.
• unsweetened chocolate++ (safe) — Real cocoa solids for flavor.
• gum acacia (safe) — Plant-derived coating agent, benign.
• Coconut Oil (safe) — Plant fat used for the shell coating.
• Cocoa Butter (safe) — The natural fat of the cacao bean.
• Sunflower Lecithin (safe) — Emulsifier; benign.
• Sea Salt (moderate) — Sodium source; no nutritional edge over regular salt.
• Non GMO Steviol Glycosides (safe) — Plant-based zero-calorie sweetener; single sweetener, no sugar, a genuine plus over sugar-loaded bars.
• Lion's Mane (safe) — Mushroom extract added for 'brain nutrient' marketing; the dose is too small to do much.
• Vitamin E (safe) — Added antioxidant vitamin, minor benefit, also props up the 'body nutrients' pitch.