Review of 'Nature Valley' Crunchy Granola Bar (Apple Crisp)

Nature Valley -- Crunchy Granola Bar (Apple Crisp) (Vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: crunchy and fresh, medium sweet, with an apple aftertaste rather than apple flavour at first bite. I would have expected more of a presence of the apple flavour. The soy and corn ingredients may be GMOs, as there is no confirmation that the brand is non-GMO (see brand info below for more).

Where to buy: Wal-Mart, Freshco
 
 Ingredients: whole grain oats, sugar, canola oil, yellow corn flour, brown sugar syrup, soy flour, dried apples, salt, soy lecithin, baking soda, cinnamon, natural flavor.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 160
     Calories from fat: 50
Total fat: 6g
     Saturated fat: .5g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Total Carbohydrate: 26g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 11g
Protein: 3g
Iron: 4%

So, the ingredients wouldn't be so bad if not for the possibility of the corn and soy based ingredients likely being genetically modified. The nutrition info is decent as well--it's low calorie, low in saturated fat, and has a decent amount of protein and fiber...though not nearly enough protein and fiber to have me buy it again. I wouldn't recommend this bar...not only for the GMO case, but I also feel that there are more nutrient dense bars out there (e.g. Clif bars, Luna bars, Nature's Path bars, etc.).

Other 'Crunchy Bars' flavours:

• Peanut Butter (vegan)
• Roasted Almond (vegan)
• Cinnamon (vegan)
• Oats 'n Granola (reviewed here)
• Maple Brown Sugar (vegan)
• Pecan Crunch (vegan)
• Oats 'n Dark Chocolate
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter (vegan)

 Brand:

• I couldn't find much information about the brand and its ingredients on the official website
• I did find a lawsuit filed against the brand for not being as Natural as it claims to be "Natural" Nature Valley Products Have Unnatural Ingredients, Says Lawsuit" (July 2012)
• A proposed class action Monday in California federal court alleging it deceptively marketed its Nature Valley snacks as all-natural when they actually contain genetically modified organisms ("General Mills Targeted Over GMOs In Nature Valley Snacks") (October 2012)
• Involved in the Preserve the Parks Project
• Official natural granola bar of the PGA Tour, US Ski Team