Review of 'Nature's Path' Hemp Plus Granola

Nature's Path -- Hemp Plus Granola (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: I was expecting a denser granola. This one is a lighter, very crunchy and crispy texture. There are pockets of chewiness that add a nice texture. It's perfectly sweet for me, and I was using unsweetened soymilk. The flavour is nutty, syrupy and just really tasty. It's not a cereal I'd have on the regular since it is a little high in calories, but it's definitely a nice treat to have granola for breakfast for a week.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Barn

Ingredients: rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, brown rice flour*, flax seeds*, hemp seeds*, oat syrup solids* (oat syrup solids*, tocopherols), sea salt, molasses*.

*Organic.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 3/4
Calories: 260
Fat: 10g
     Saturated fat: 1.5g
     Trans fat: 0g
     Omega-6: 4.5g
     Omega-3: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 45mg
Potassium: 180mg
Carbohydrate: 36g
     Fibre: 5g
     Sugars: 10g
Protein: 6g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 15%

Ah, so refreshing to see such lovely ingredients! All wholesome and non-GMO. It is rather high in calories for only 3/4 cup, but this is generally the norm for most granola. I'd say it's worth it given the great ingredients and the nutrition profile. Don't be scared of the 10g of fat, because there are healthy omegas involved. Relax!

I really like that it's low in sodium and has a solid amount of fibre, protein, and iron. Adding about 1/2 cup of your favourite milk makes for a boost in calcium and protein and makes for a well-rounded meal.

Other Granola varieties (all vegan):

• Kirkland Signature by Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains Granola with Almonds
• Peanut Butter Granola
• Chia Plus™ Coconut Chia Granola
• Pumpkin Flax Plus® Granola
• Ginger Zing Granola
• Pomegran Cherry Granola
• High Fibre Cinnamon Raisin Granola
• Vanilla Almond Flax Plus™ Granola

Brand (quoted from the Nature's Path website):

• Family-owned and operated
•  Certified non-GMO and organic; non-GMO Project verified
• Fairtrade certified
• "We source all our ingredients as locally as possible to our production plants."
• "...over 78% of the weight of ingredients we purchase comes from organic farmers in North America."
• "Some of the ingredients we have committed to purchasing are Fairtrade Certified cocoa, sugar cane, molasses, and spices." 
• Gardens for Good Project

Review of 'Celestial Seasonings' Lemonade Iced Tea K-Cup

Celestial Seasonings -- Lemonade Iced Tea K-Cup
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: so, this is a mixture of black tea and lemonade. The scent is refreshing--loved it! It's equally great in taste--it's smooth, sweetly tart (simply perfect), and tastes so natural and fresh. I honestly did not expect to like this tea so much. I liked it both hot and chilled.

Where to buy: Fortinos, online from Keurig


Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 K-Cup
Calories: 70
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Total Carbs: 17g
     Sugars: 16g
Vitamin C: 25%

So, kudos to the 25% vitamin C boost in this tea! Celestial Seasonings does not use GMO ingredients, so rest assured that you can enjoy their products sans guilt.

Other K-Cup varieties:

• Unsweetened Black Tea
• Classic Iced Tea (reviewed here)
• Sweet Lemon Black Tea
• Sweet Raspberry Black Tea
• Southern Sweet
• Half and Half
• Sweet Peach Black Tea
• English Breakfast Black Tea
• India Spice Chai Tea
• Green Tea
• Mandarin Orange Spice Herbal Tea
• Decaf Green Tea
• Sleepytime Herbal Tea
• Earl Grey Black Tea
• Lemon Zinger Herbal Tea
• French Vanilla

Brand:

• This product is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union
• Since 1969
• Boxes are made from 100% recyclable materials
• Natural fiber tea bags are manufactured through a totally chlorine-free (TCF) process, meaning that no dioxin is released into the environment. Plus, they never contain starch or gluten, and they're completely biodegradable and compostable 
• Celestial follows regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Ethical Trade philosophy 
• Celestial Seasonings does not use GMO ingredients in any of its teas
• Contributor to the Celestial Seasonings B Strong Ride, etown, Community Shares of Colorado, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Bonfils Blood Center of Colorado, Trees for the Future, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Conservation International, Blue Sky Bridge and Family Advocacy Program, Emergency Family Assistance Association, and Doctors Without Borders

Review of 'Holiday Snacks' Exotica Fruit & Nut Fusion

Holiday Snacks -- Exotica Fruit & Nut Fusion (vegan)
Overall Rating: 1/5
Summary: Meh, the banana chips and nuts are not very fresh, except the 1 or 2 walnuts pieces included. The dried fruit are the best bet. I cannot recommend this product for its inclusion of trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils), artificial colours (linked to cancer, allergies), sulphur dioxide (linked to allergies, asthma, and cancer) and BHT/BHA (linked to cancer). Further, the oils used are likely GMO (e.g. canola, soybean). A better brand of nuts that can be found in Caribbean countries is Oskri (reviewed here). The ingredients are organic and wholesome.

Where to buy: Caribbean countries!



Ingredients: peanuts, cashews, pecans, raisins, honey-dipped banana chips, dehydrated pineapple, sweetened dried cranberries, dehydrated orange coloured papaya, natural mango, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and/or canola and/or palm olein and/or soybean oil, salt, FD&C yellow lake #6, BHT/BHA antioxidant, traces of sulphur dioxide.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 oz/28g/about 1/2 the container
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 70
Total Fat: 8g
     Saturated Fat: 2g
     Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 20mg
Total Carbohydrate: 13g
     Sugar: 8g
Protein: 3g

Okay, I'm not even going to bother going through the nutritional profile. There are just too many unhealthy ingredients; it's just not worth it. Skip this snack at any cost.

Other Nuts & Seeds varieties:

• Almonds
• Cashews (reviewed here)
• Exotica--Morning Medley, Yogurt Delight
• Hot Nuts
• Peanuts
• Raisins and Nuts

Brand:

• 1995: the company achieved ISO 9002 certification and the UNIDO Innovation Business Award in the medium enterprise category
• Part of the Bermudez Group of Companies

Review of 'Holiday Snacks' Cashew Nuts

Holiday Snacks -- Cashew Nuts (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: It's fresh and tasty, with slightly too much salt to be considered 'lighly salted', as indicated on the package. I simply cannot recommend this product for its inclusion of trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils), likely GMOs (e.g. soybean and canola oil) and BHT/BHA (linked to cancer). A better brand of nuts that can be found in Caribbean countries is Oskri (reviewed here). The ingredients are organic and wholesome.

Where to buy: stores in...the Caribbean!



Ingredients: cashew kernels, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and/or canola and/or palm olein and/or soybean oil, salt, BHT/BHA (antioxidant).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 package/28g
Calories: 195
     Calories from fat: 145
Total Fat: 15g
     Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 115mg
Total Carb.: 7g
     Sugar: 1.5g
Protein: 6g

So, BHT/BHA is linked to cancer (read about it here and here) and partially hydrogenated ingredients are linked to increased "bad" cholesterol and decreased "good" cholesterol (read about it here), which increases the risk for heart disease.

There's a nice 6g of protein, but that's about all. For 195 calories, it's just not worth the health risks associated with the added trans fats and BHT/BHA. Pass, pass, pass on this snack.

Other Nuts & Seeds varieties:

• Almonds
• Exotica
• Hot Nuts
• Peanuts
• Raisins and Nuts

Brand:

• 1995: the company achieved ISO 9002 certification and the UNIDO Innovation Business Award in the medium enterprise category
• Part of the Bermudez Group of Companies

Review of 'Oskri' Almond Honey Crunch

Oskri -- Almond Honey Crunch (gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: super fresh and insanely flavourful nuts. There's not too much honey--just enough to hold the nuts together and give a slight chewy texture and a perfect hint of sweetness. I'm very, very impressed! This is a delicious and wholesome snack.

Where to buy: online from Oskri (ships to US and Canada), The Stone Store (Guelph, ON), Deen Foods (Toronto, ON)

Ingredients: Almonds, Honey, Rice Syrup, Sea Salt.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Calories: 130
Total Fat: 11g
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carb.: 7g
     Dietary Fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 4g
Protein: 4g
Vitamin C: 1%
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 6%

For 130 calories, this is a nutritious snack with 2g of fiber and a solid 4g of protein. The nuts mean the 11g of fat are healthy, essential fats. The sugar content is low and there are no refined sugars used. Buy this!

Other 'Crunches' varieties:

• Cashew Honey Crunch with Cranberries (gluten-free)

Brand:

• Manufactured with renewable energy
• Based in WI, USA

Review of 'Van Houtte' French Vanilla K-Cup

Van Houtte -- French Vanilla K-Cup (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: it's a perfectly light roast...actually may be light-medium, in my opinion. It has a light, but clearly present french vanilla flavour and the aroma is really nice. I'm really enjoying this coffee! It's comes unsweetened and has about 2 calories per k-cup.

Where to buy: there are Van Houtte cafes in Quebec, Fortinos, Loblaws, Sobeys, Foodland, Metro, Costco, Sears, online from Van Houtte

Ingredients:

Other K-Cup 'Flavoured Coffee' varieties:

• Belgian Chocolate - Light Roast
• Butterscotch - Light Roast
• Chocolate Macaroon - Light Roast
• Chocolate Raspberry Truffle - Light Roast
• Crème Brûlée - Light Roast
• French Vanilla Iced Coffee - Light Roast
• Pecan Praline - Light Roast
• Vanilla Hazelnut - Light Roast
• Vanilla Hazelnut Decaf - Light Roast

Brand:

• Since 1919
• Kosher
• K-cup® packs' foil top and plastic cup are not recyclable, though they are looking into alternatives
• Non-GMO
• Van Houtte Organic Certified coffees are certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA International)
• The parent company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. allocates a portion of their pre-tax profits every year to support socially and environmentally responsible initiatives.

Review of 'Clif Bar' Chocolate Almond Fudge

Clif Bar -- Chocolate Almond Fudge (vegan)
Overall: 3.5/5
Summary: gotta admit, I was expecting more. The bar is chocolatey, but not so richly and deeply chocolatey. In fact, in the first few bites, I got a bit of an artificial taste (even though there are no artificial ingredients). After those initial bites, it was not noticeable. It does have a really nice texture--soft, chewy, with small bits of almonds. However, I would have liked more pieces of almonds and bigger pieces to really get that almond flavour. It's only mildly sweet, which is what disappointed me the most because when I hear 'chocolate almond fudge', I expect a sweet explosion! Overall though, it's still a yummy bar and I would recommend it. Just don't expect a very sweet experience.

Where to buy: Bulk Barn, Fortinos, Shopper's Drug Mart




Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, ClifPro® (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Barley Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Cane Syrup, Chocolate Chips (Dried Cane Syrup, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Almond Butter, Organic Fig Paste, Cocoa, Almonds, ClifCrunch® (Apple Fiber, Organic Oat Fiber, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Psyllium), Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Natural Vitamin E (Antioxidant).

Nutrition Facts*
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated: 1.5g
          Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
          Monounsaturated: 2g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium: 440mg
Total carbs: 44g
     Dietary fiber: 5g
     Sugars: 20g
Protein: 10g
Vitamin A: 30%
Vitamin C: 90%
Calcium: 25%
Iron: 10%

*For complete nutritional profile, visit here.

Well, there are no issues with the ingredients. They're wholesome and without artificial additions. For 250 calories, the nutritional profile is dense--you get healthy fats, 5g of fiber (great!) and 10g of protein, in addition to a boost in vitamins and minerals. Because the bar wasn't quite as sweet as my fatty self wanted, I find the calories to be a bit steep.

Other Clif Bar flavours (all vegan, baby):

• Apricot
• Banana Nut Bread
• Black Cherry Almond (reviewed here)
• Blueberry Crisp
• Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Brownie
• Chocolate Chip (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch
• Coconut Chocolate Chip
• Cool Mint Chocolate (reviewed here)
• Crunchy Peanut Butter (reviewed here)
• Gary's Panforte
• Iced Gingerbread
• Maple Nut (reviewed here)
• Oatmeal Raisin Walnut (reviewed here)
• Peanut Toffee Buzz
• Peppermint Stick (reviewed here)
• Spiced Pumpkin
• White Chocolate Macadamia

Brand:

• Each Clif Bar is 70% organic
• No high-fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils
• No artificial preservatives or trans fats
• No artificial colours, sweeteners or flavours
• Non-GMO
• Clif Bar Family Foundation
• Commitment to Zero Waste
• Climate Action Approach
• Partnerships with American Forests and Trees for the Future
• Organic farming strategy
• Certified Sustainable
• Community involvement (e.g. collaboration with other businesses, volunteering, sharing products, philanthropy)

Review of 'Celestial Seasonings" Classic Iced Tea K-Cup

Celestial Seasonings -- Classic Iced Tea K-Cup (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: very sweet, but keep in mind that I normally don't sweeten my teas. Also, I'm not complaining :) ...even though the sugar bumps up a serving to 70 calories. This was a really nice afternoon treat. The tea is not too strong...in fact, it's perfect in my opinion. I'm going to recommend this as an occasional afternoon tea.

Where to buy: Fortinos, online at Celestial Seasonings, online from Keurig



Ingredients: evaporated cane juice, black tea, tricalcium phosphate (a Natural Free Flow Agent.)

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 k-cup
Calories: 70
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Total Carbohydrate: 18g
     Sugars: 18g
Protein: 0g

Mmm, don't worry about indulging in this tea. There are no unnatural ingredients, no GMOs, etc. Just brew and enjoy!

Other K-Cup varieties:

• Unsweetened Black Tea
• Sweet Lemon Black Tea
• Sweet Raspberry Black Tea
• Southern Sweet
• Half and Half
• Sweet Peach Black Tea
• English Breakfast Black Tea
• India Spice Chai Tea
• Green Tea
• Mandarin Orange Spice Herbal Tea
• Decaf Green Tea
• Sleepytime Herbal Tea
• Earl Grey Black Tea
• Lemon Zinger Herbal Tea
• French Vanilla

Brand:

• This product is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union
• Since 1969
• Boxes are made from 100% recyclable materials
• Natural fiber tea bags are manufactured through a totally chlorine-free (TCF) process, meaning that no dioxin is released into the environment. Plus, they never contain starch or gluten, and they're completely biodegradable and compostable 
• Celestial follows regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Ethical Trade philosophy 
• Celestial Seasonings does not use GMO ingredients in any of its teas
• Contributor to the Celestial Seasonings B Strong Ride, etown, Community Shares of Colorado, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Bonfils Blood Center of Colorado, Trees for the Future, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Conservation International, Blue Sky Bridge and Family Advocacy Program, Emergency Family Assistance Association, and Doctors Without Borders

Review of 'Oreo' Original

Oreo -- Original (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: definitely not as fresh and crisply crunchy as I thought it would be. That includes the sandwich biscuits as well as the cream. The cream simply wasn't fresh and well....creamy enough. For the amount of calories for these tiny cookies and the lack of nutrition, I expected to be wowed. Don't get me wrong...they're Oreos, after all. They're perfectly sweet and they satisfy that sweets craving, but I can think of a *much* better sandwich cookie, in terms of ingredients as well as flavour, texture, and freshness--Country Choice Organic Sandwich Cookies (reviewed here). After having the 'Country Choice Organic' brand, Oreos just don't cut it in terms of flavour or ingredients.

Where to buy: any major grocery store (Sobeys, Fortinos, Freshco, Loblaws)



Image source: So Good Blog

*Ingredients: sugar, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and folic acid), vegetable fat, cocoa powder, invert sugar syrup, sodium and ammonium bicarbonate (leavening), iodized salt, cornstarch, soy lecithin (emulsifier) and artificial vanilla flavour.

*The ingredients will differ slightly depending on where in the world you are buying Oreos, but there aren't major differences and the nutritional content should be very similar.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 4 cookies
Calories: 180
Total fat: 7g
     Saturated fat: 4g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 200mg
Carbohydrates: 26g
     Sugars: 15g
     Fiber: < than 1g
Protein: 2g

Well, you can clearly tell from the ingredients that you're not in for a nutritious snack! I wouldn't actually mind the terribly empty nutritional profile if the ingredients weren't so terrible as well. The inclusion of the cornstarch and artificial vanilla flavour are my main offenders, especially because the former is a GMO.

Other 'Oreo' products:

• Fudge Cremes Mint (vegan)
• Fudge Cremes (vegan)
• Chocolate Cones (vegan)
• Pie Crust
• Chocolate Cool Mint Creme (vegan)
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme (vegan)
• Double Stuf Golden (vegan)
• Double Stuf Heads or Tails (vegan)
• Fudge Cremes Peanut Butter (vegan)
• Chocolate Berry Burst Ice Cream (vegan)
• Triple Double Chocolate (vegan)
• Chocolate Creme (vegan)
• Creme Filled Brownies
• Chocolate Spring (vegan)
• Winter Red Creme (vegan)
• Double Stuf Chocolate (vegan)
• Fudge Cremes Golden (vegan)
• Golden Original (vegan)
• Chocolate White Fudge Covered

Brand:

• Contains no information on GMO status on website, so I assume Oreo products still contain GMOs
• Still uses 'high fructose corn syrup' in products
• Owned by Kraft, which opposes GMO-labelling
• 2003 lawsuit dropped after Oreo pledges to reduce fat in cookies (read CNN article here)

Review of 'Dum-Dums' Original Pops (reviewed by flavour!)

Dum-Dums -- Original Pops Mystery Flavour (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: not too sweet so far, which I like. I wouldn't recommend it simply because it uses corn syrup and likely is genetically modified. It also uses artificial flavours and colours and has no real nutritional value.

Where to buy: US store locator, buy online from Dum-Dums, you can get them in Canada but I'm not sure what stores carry them




Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Salt, Artificial Flavor, Color Added (Includes Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1)

Nutritional Information
Serving size: 3 pops
Calories: 59
Total fat: 0g
Carbohydrate: 15g
     Sugar: 11g
Protein: 0g

I suppose the Canadian Dum-Dums may have slightly different ingredients, but these US ones have corn syrup, which likely means that these pops are not GMO-free. Thus, I do not recommend buying these. The ingredients also contain artificial flavours and colours.

Flavour review:

Mystery flavour: not too sweet, yummy, tastes like cherry hmmm
Grape flavour: again, not too sweet. And, the artificial grape flavour tasted pretty authentic!
Mango flavour: so the mango flavour is bangin in the first minute, but it gets lost after that
Fruit Punch flavour: k, this one is actually really good. Probably my favourite so far.
Blu-Raspberry flavour: meh, too sour
Blueberry flavour: doesn't really taste like blueberry; just a sweet pop
Cherry flavour: actually tastes like cherry. It's a good one.
Root beer flavour: mmm, one of my favs...has that licorice flavour.
Sour Apple flavour: I had this after it melted in my bag and...mmm! I prefer the melted outer layer. It was sourish and appley :)

More flavour reviews to come!

Brand:

• Artificial ingredients included 
• Kosher certified
• Since 1906
• Use either beet or cane sugar in the manufacturing process

Review of Nut'n Better Natural Peanut Butter

Nut'n Better -- Natural Peanut Butter (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: alright, this is a peanut butter for true peanut butter lovers. The peanut flavour is deep and rich. It's perfectly smooth and creamy. I had it with a slightly sweet bread and...my goodness...delicious. I highly recommend this peanut butter brand!

Where to buy: Warehouse Shoppers Express, Costco (I believe!)

Ingredients: peanuts :)

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 tablespoon
Calories: 100
Fat: 8g
     Saturated: 1.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 0mg
Carbohydrates: 3g
     Fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 4g
Iron: 2%

This is a typical calorie-count for a tbsp of natural peanut butter. The calories begin to add up as the ingredients are added. In this instance, there's only 1 ingredient--peanuts! Thus, you get the leanest peanut butter out there. One serving gives you 8g of (healthy) fat and 4g of protein.

I like to make a whole grain avocado-peanut butter sandwich or banana-peanut butter sandwich, which adds extra fiber, protein and vitamins and makes for a really wholesome meal/snack. Enjoy!

Brand:

• Product of Golden Boy Foods Ltd.
• December 2012 recall of Inshell Mixed Nuts due to possible Salmonella contamination

Review of Mott's 100% Apple Juice (from concentrate)

Mott's -- 100% Apple Juice (from concentrate) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: yay, no sugar added!...yet, so very sweet. It tastes fresh and sugary. It's a tad too sweet for me, but this just means that it would be great for kids. I'm going to recommend this specific Mott's product. But be aware that some of their products do contain the dreaded 'high fructose corn syrup'.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Metro, most large grocery stores



Ingredients: water, apple juice concentrate, ascorbic acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 240 mL
Calories: 120
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 10mg
Potassium: 290mg
Total carbohydrate: 29g
     Sugars: 28g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 120%
Iron: 4%

This is a really great option for children (and adults with a sweet tooth), as it's super sweet without any added sugars. The ingredients are simple and kept to a minimum and the nutritional profile is good. The calories are average for juice and provide more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs.

I prefer the taste of this brand of apple juice over Oasis' Classic Apple Juice (also from concentrate) (reviewed here).

Check out the recipe page here. Recipes using this product include:

• Kaleidoscope Pops
• Double Punch Milk

Other 'Mott's Original' products (all vegan):

• Fruit Punch
• Apple Light 
• 100% Apple White Grape Juice 
• Natural 100% Apple Juice 
• Apple Sauce
• Cinnamon Applesauce
• Natural Applesauce

Brand:

• Still uses high fructose corn syrup in some products
• Since 1842
• No preservatives
• "Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Sued Over Mott’s For Tots Immunity Claims" (read article here)
• "Coca-Cola, Gerber, Hain Celestial & Mott’s Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Lead Contamination In Certain Products" (read article here)

Review of 'Ocean Spray' Cran•Pomegranate™ Cranberry Pomegranate Juice Drink

Ocean Spray -- Cran•Pomegranate™ Cranberry Pomegranate Juice Drink (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: this is way too watered down and sweetened for my tastes. It honestly tastes like sugar (like, realllyyy sugary) water with a packet of cranberry powder added...I'm definitely not recommending this. There are no complex, rich, fresh fruit flavours....no depth, just sugar.

Where to buy: Freshco, Sobeys, any major grocery stores



Ingredients: filtered water, cane or beet sugar, grape juice from concentrate, cranberry juice from concentrate, pomegranate juice from concentrate, natural flavours, fumaric acid, malic acid, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 0
Total Fat: 0g
Sodium: 35mg
Potassium: 40mg
Total Carbohydrate: 30g
     Sugars: 30g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin C: 100%

Nah, I can do without the watering down and sugariness of this "juice". 30g is way too much sugar and it's just not necessary. Passss. If you're looking for great juice options, try:

• Kiju (my favourite!) (review)
• Oasis, which has no added sugars and is quite good (review)
• R.W. Knudsen juices (natural and organic) (review)
• POM Wonderful (no sugar added) (review)
• Sunrype (which has 100% juices) (review)
• Arthur's Fresh Company (all juice!) (review)
• UFC Coconut water (reviewed here); Vita Coco (reviewed here)

Check out the Ocean Spray 'Kitchen', where you can find a bunch of great recipes.

Other Cranberry Pomegranate varieties:

• 100% Juice Cranberry Pomegranate
• Light Cranberry & Pomegranate flavored Juice Drink
• Diet Cran•Pomegranate™ Cranberry Pomegranate Juice Drink
• Cran•Energy™ Cranberry Pomegranate Energy Juice Drink
• Cranberry Pomegranate Drink Mix

Brand:

• Contributed funds against labeling of GMOs
• Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. is the recipient of Color Magazine’s - 2009 All Inclusive Leadership Award
• Read about their Sustainability Initiatives here
• Some Kosher products
• Most Ocean Spray products are packaged using recyclable PET (number 1) plastic juice containers
• The Ocean Spray plastic (PET or PP) juice bottles do not contain Bisphenol-A (more commonly known as BPA)

Review of 'Silk' Organic Unsweetened Soymilk

Silk -- Organic Unsweetened Soymilk (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: mmm milky, creamy, perfection. It's very light and fresh and the mild soybean flavour is really nice. It's one of my 'go-to' milks for my cereals because of the great nutritional profile. The brand is great (read impressive details below) and GMO-free. The only ingredients that may be cause of some concern is carrageenan, said to be linked to gastrointestinal health issues and colon cancer.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Bar, Longos



Ingredients: Organic Soymilk (Filtered Water, Whole Organic Soybeans), Carrageenan, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 80
     Calories from fat: 35
Total fat: 4g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated fat: 2.5g
     Monounsaturated fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 70mg
Potassium: 340mg
Total carb.: 3g
     Dietary fibre: 2g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 7g
Vitamin A: 10%
Calcium: 30%
Iron: 6%

At just 80 cals, there's a whole lotta nutrition. It's low in saturated fat and sodium and has a great fiber and protein content. The boost of vitamin A and calcium is always a perk for me, as I don't tend to eat enough vitamin A-rich foods (e.g. sweet potato, carrots, greens) and calcium is something many women are lacking in.

Other Soymilk flavours (vegan):

• Original
• Chocolate
• Vanilla (reviewed here)
• Very Vanilla
• DHA Omega-3
• Light Vanilla
• Light Original
• Light Chocolate
• Organic Vanilla
• Organic Original

Brand:

• Verified non-GMO
• Certified Kosher
• Some product varieties are certified organic
• All vegan
• Responsible sourcing initiative
• Champions of wind power, partnered with Bonneville Environmental Foundation 
• Partnered with Conservation International, The Organic Center, The Organic Farming Research Foundation, World Soy Foundation and Tree Canada
• Silk for Coffee uses palm oil from suppliers who've joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Parent company: WhiteWave Foods
• Read about Silk's achievements in environmental conservation through it's manufacturing processes here

Review of 'Del Monte' Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup

Del Monte -- Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: wow, these fruits are so bland...the cherries have no flavour whatsoever. Actually, the flavours are all lost. All you really taste is the sweet syrup that's a blend of bland flavours. It's just a mash-up of shapes in a corn syrupy soup. This is so disappointing, especially because the calorie count is so high! You'd expect a yummy product...I can't recommend this. No way. It's made all the worse by the fact that the brand contributed funds against the labelling of GMO foods. It's more likely that the corn syrup used is genetically modified. You're better off buying fruit cocktails that include only fruit in 100% fruit juice.

Where to buy: Freshco, Metro, Fortinos, most major grocery stores



Ingredients: Peaches, Pears, Water, Grapes, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Pineapple, Cherries (Cherries, Carmine).

Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 100
Total fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 10mg
Potassium: 110mg
Total Carbohydrate: 24g
     Fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 23g
Protein: 0g
Vitamin A: 4%
Vitamin C: 4%
Iron: 2%

Why, oh why, couldn't they do without the corn syrup and sugar? I've had sugarless fruit cocktails that have been great. There's just no freshness to this blend. What's also disappointing is that the nutrients are gone! Only miniscule levels of vitamins A and C are present and just 1/2 cup is 100 calories *with* 23g of sugar! Sooo not worth it. These are just empty calories and it's not delicious enough to warrant that.

Check out the recipes page for recipes using this product. Some include:

• Angel Food Ambrosia
• Fruit Cocktail Cake

Other Canned 'Mixed Fruit' varieties (all vegan):

• Lite® Chunky Mixed Fruit
• Chunky Mixed Fruit
• Chunky Mixed Fruit in 100% Juice
• Citrus Salad
• Lite® Fruit Cocktail
• Fruit Cocktail (Healthy Kids)
• Fruit Cocktail in 100% Juice
• No Sugar Added Fruit Cocktail
• No Sugar Added Very Cherry Mixed Fruit
• Tropical Fruit Salad in 100% Juice
• Very Cherry® Mixed Fruit In Light Syrup

Brand:

• Funded anti-GMO labelling efforts
• 2013: voluntary recall of pet food nationwide (read Ohio.com article)
• 2012: Nature's Recipe is a brand of Del Monte Foods and had products recalled for possible Salmonella contamination (read CBS news article)
• 2012: recall of certain fruit bowls due to possible health risks (read FDA announcement)

Review of 'Palmer's Candies' Selects 'Orange Slices'

Palmer's Candies -- Selects 'Orange Slices' (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: wow, there's a burst of orange flavour, including that slight bitterness of the rind. The sugar crystals really add to the texture--great! It is medium-sweet and pretty dang good. But, it leaves a burning/numb kinda feeling in the mouth afterwards...kinda odd. There's no information on the official website about ingredients and GMO status, so it's pretty safe to say that this product contains GMOs. If that weren't bad enough, it also has trans fats (modified cornstarch), and artificial ingredients. I do not recommend this product.

Where to buy: US


Picture credit: Candy Nation

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 3 pcs
Calories: 130
Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 15mg
Total carbs.: 33g
     Fiber: 0g
     Sugars: 25g
Protein: 0g

Ingredients: corn syrup, sugar, cornstarch, modified cornstarch, citric acid, natural flavor, FD&C yellow 6.

Okay, take a look at these ingredients and hide your kids. There's just nothing to offer. Not only are the ingredients devoid of health benefits, they are actually harmful to your health. Pass on these. If you need to get your kids some similar candies that are better for their health, try Florida's Naturals.

Brand:

• Since 1878
• Product of Mexico

Review of 'Kashi' GOLEAN Original

Kashi -- GOLEAN Original
Overall Rating: 3/5
Summary: this is a subtly sweet and hearty cereal. The textures are complex and each bite is quite enjoyable. The nutritional profile is great (low-calorie, low-fat, high in fiber and protein). If it were not for the poor GMO status of Kashi at the moment, I'd rank it higher. I didn't deduct quite so many, since Kashi is trying to phase out GMOs.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Shopper's Drug Mart



Ingredients: soy grits, Kashi Seven Whole Grains & Sesame (hard red wheat, brown rice, whole grain oats, triticale, barley, rye, buckwheat, sesame seeds), evaporated cane juice syrup, corn meal, corn flour, soy protein, wheat bran, oat fiber, corn bran, *honey, evaporated cane juice, natural flavours, calcium carbonate, salt, annatto color.

*Not vegan

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 140
     Calories from fat: 10
Total fat: 1g
     Saturated: 0g
     Trans: 0g
     Polyunsaturated: .5g
     Monounsaturated: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 85mg
Potassium: 480mg
Total carb.: 30g
     Dietary fiber: 10g
          Soluble fiber: 1g
          Insoluble fiber: 9g
     Sugars: 6g
Protein: 13g
Calcium: 6%
Iron: 10%

So, the corn- and soy-based ingredients are most likely genetically modified, since Kashi has not yet been verified as non-GMO. While the ingredients are problematic, the nutritional profile is quite good.

For only 140 calories, each serving provides 10g of fiber and 13g of protein! Furthermore, it only has 1g of fat and is not too high in sugars. Once you add your milk of choice, you have a really well-rounded meal/snack that's very filling.

Other Kashi GOLEAN cereals:

• GOLEAN® Cereal Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble (vegan) (reviewed here)
• GOLEAN® Cereal Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble (vegan)
• GOLEAN® Cereal Crunch!
• GOLEAN® Cereal, Crunch! Honey Almond Flax

Brand:

• "Nine of our foods are now officially Non-GMO Project Verified including Autumn Wheat, Cinnamon Harvest, Island Vanilla, Strawberry Fields, 7 Whole Grain Flakes, 7 Whole Grain Puffs, 7 Whole Grain Pilaf, Simply Maize and Indigo Morning." (kashi.com)
• Phasing out GMOs: "That's why today Kashi announced a big initiative to increase the company's availability of organic and Non-GMO Project Verified foods. By the end of 2014, all existing Kashi® GOLEAN® cereals and Kashi® Chewy Granola Bars—representing Kashi's biggest offerings—will be Non-GMO Project Verified. Beginning in 2015, all new Kashi foods introduced into the market will contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and will also be Non-GMO Project Verified" (read article here).
• "The soy in Kashi cereals comes from soybeans that have had a gene inserted to protect the soybeans from the herbicide Roundup, which kills, weeds," according to USA Today (read article here).
• Kellogg, which owns Kashi, contributed $600 000 against the non-GMO proposition 37 (read the Huffington Post article here)

Review of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes

Kellogg's -- Frosted Flakes (vegan)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: I do like the corn flavour, but that's about it. For all the sugar that's been added, the cereal isn't that sweet. And, combined with the fact that the ingredients are pretty horrid (GMOs, BHT, high fructose corn syrup), I can't rightly recommend this cereal. If you're looking for a healthy breakfast cereal, try the Nature's Path. You'll pay more, but the ingredients are the cleanest out there as far as I know.

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortinos, most major grocery stores



*Canadian ingredients: flaked milled corn, sugar, malt (corn flour, malted barley), salt, colour, bht.

*My version's ingredients: milled corn, sugar, malt flavoring, high fructose corn syrup, salt, bht.
      Contains traces of soybeans.

Nutrition Facts*
Serving size: 1 box (34g)
Calories: 130
     Calories from fat: 0g
Total fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 170m
Total Carb.: 31g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 1g
Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 10%
Iron: 25%

*The Canadian version has similar calories, but 0 fiber and 2g protein. Also, the Canadian version is not fortified with any vitamins and nutrients. The plus side is that the CA cereal has no high fructose corn syrup (linked to diabetes, obesity, health and liver illnesses, etc.).

 The nutritional profile is pretty bare, other than the added nutrients and vitamins. If not for these fortifications, the 130 calories are empty, with only 1g protein and fiber. Not very impressive. You'll basically be relying on the added milk to get some more protein and nutrients. I say, if you're walking down the cereal aisle and you happen to glance at Kellogg's Frosted Flakes...keep on walking.

You can check out their recipe page here. Recipes using Frosted Flakes include:

• "Making Tracks" Peanut Butter Cookies
• Cherry Bars
• Chocolate Coconut Chews
• Chocolate Krackolates
• Fruit Empanadas
• Raisin Pear Muffins

Other Kellogg's cereal brands:

• All Bran
• Corn Flakes
• Corn Pops
• Fruit Loops
• Just Right
• Mini-Wheats
• Two Scoops Raisin Bran Cereal
• Rice Krispies
• Special K
• Vector Meal Replacement
• Muslix
• Krave

Brand:

• Anti-GMO-labelling
• Uses BHT, additives, artificial flavours and colours
• Nutrition and Health initiatives (ahem, yet there's still high fructose corn syrup in cereals?)
• Environmental initiatives (e.g. almost all cereal boxes are made from 100 percent recycled paperboard)
• Feb 2013: recall over glass risk (ABC news article)

Review of Anna's Ginger Thins

Anna's -- Ginger Thins (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: ah yes, delicate Swedish cookies use cinnamon, ginger and cloves and the flavour is out of this world. It's warm, rich, and like a bite of Christmas and merriment and festivities. Oh my, these are the best thing ever made ever. They are super thin, crisp, and light. I don't understand how they could be so delicious. I would have easily given this a 4.5 or 5 if I could verify a non-GMO status and if the nutritional profile wasn't quite so empty. The calories are pretty empty, so I'd recommend these only on occasion...sadly.

Where to buy: in Western Canada (see stores here), Sobeys in Atlantic Canada, and online

Ingredients: wheat flour, vegetable margarine (palm oil, palm kernel oil, canola oil, water, salt, vegetable monoglycerides, citric acid, flavor), sugar, invert sugar syrup, leavening (sodium bicarbonate), cinnamon, ginger, cloves.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 6 cookies
Calories: 133
     Calories from fat: 48
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: 3g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 139mg
Carbohydrate: 19g
     Fiber: .4g
     Sugars: 9g
Protein: 1g
Iron: 1%

So, yes, they use wheat flour, which strips the flour of vital nutrients (including fiber, calcium, b vitamins, etc.). And yes, the oils used may be genetically modified and thus harmful to your health. And yes, there's more sugar than any other nutrient. *sigh* Okay, so these are the reasons I've given it a 3.5/5 rating.

The calories aren't bad, but there's mostly just fat and sugar--no fiber, no protein, no vitamins, no nada. So bear this in mind once you take that first cookie and subsequently start wolfing them down!

Other 'Thins' flavors:

• Almond Thins (vegan)
• Chocolate Mint Thins 
• Orange Thins (vegan)

Brand:

• Manufactured in Sweden
• No artificial flavorings
• Uncertain GMO status

Review of 'Dole' Tropical Fruit Bowl in 100% Fruit Juice

Dole -- Tropical Fruit Bowl in 100% Fruit Juice (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: this is a quite tart fruit bowl and it complements well the very sweet juice in which the fruits float. Mmm, now I know why it's award winning. I can taste the papaya and pineapple flavours with no problem and it's fresh, not at all artificial-tasting. This is a great, healthy, sweet snack for children. It's natural and has no artificial ingredients. And, it's delicious and colourful to appeal to fussy little eaters. I am recommending this product!

Where to buy: Fortinos, Metro



Ingredients: Pineapple, Pineapple Juice, Papaya, Water, Grape Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, and Ascorbic Acid, (Vitamin C).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 bowl
Calories: 60
     Calories from fat: 0g
Total fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 5mg
Potassium: 160mg
Total carbohydrates: 15g
     Dietary fibre: 1g
     Sugars: 14g
Protein: <1g
Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 45%

I'm happy. There are no added sugars or sweeteners in this product. It's the perfect little snack. It's very low-calorie, has no fat, and no sodium! The best part (aside from the yummy taste) is the 10% vitamin A and 45% vitamin C.

They have a pretty good recipe section here and some interesting articles on health, fitness, and weight loss. Some recipes using this Tropical Fruit Bowl include:

• Polynesian Sunshine Pie
• Tropical Fruit Spinach Salad

Other 'Fruit Bowl' varieties:

• Cherry Mixed Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
• Diced Apples in 100% Fruit Juice
• Diced Peaches in 100% Fruit Juice
• Diced Pears in 100% Fruit Juice
• Mandarin Oranges in 100% Fruit Juice
• Mandarins in Orange Gel
• Mixed Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
• Mixed Fruit in Black Cherry Gel
• Mixed Fruit in Cherry Gel
• Mixed Fruit in Peach Gel
• Peaches in Strawberry Gel
• Pineapple Tidbits in 100% Pineapple Juice

Brand:

• Dole implements Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 
• Read about Dole's Sustainability initiatives here and corporate social responsibility (CSR) here
• DOLE Fruit Bowls Tropical Fruit in 100% Juice were awarded the 2012 ChefsBest® Award for Best Taste

Review of 'Peter Pan' Creamy Peanut Butter

Peter Pan -- Creamy Peanut Butter (vegan, gluten-free)
Overall Rating: 2/5
Summary: so, yes it's very light and smooth, but no it's not great. I actually prefer my peanut butter thicker and heavier, as I find it richer and more filling. I'm not a big fan of the salt content. With the sugar, there's just way too much salt to make it a subtle balance. It's like sweet and salty are competing. Also, who is a big fan of trans-fats? That's what I thought. This product contains trans fats (you can learn how to spot trans fats in products from this article out of the U of Maryland Medical Centre). There's just no way I can recommend this product, especially since they market it as having 0 trans fats. I've recommended some alternative brands below that are much better.

Where to buy: Fortinos



Ingredients: roasted peanuts, sugar, less than 2% of: hydrogenated vegetable oils (cottonseed and rapeseed), salt, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 210
     Calories from fat: 150
Total fat: 17g
     Saturated fat: 3g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium: 180mg
Total carbohydrate: 6g
     Dietary fiber: 2g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 8g
Iron: 2%

They just *had* to add that hydrogenated oil, didn't they? If they'd just left in the roasted peanuts and *even* a bit of sugar or salt, this would have been a pretty good product, at least in terms of ingredients. I've had peanut butters before that have only peanuts as the ingredient and I've loved it! A great alternative (4.5/5) is Maranatha brand of nut butters (reviewed here). Some good alternatives (3.5/5) are Smart Balance Peanut Butter (reviewed here) and Kraft All Natural Peanut Butter (reviewed here).

With the added oils, you get a slight calorie hike and almost double the fat content. This is really unfortunate, since peanuts have their own natural oils and there's really no need for added oils. The sodium is not appealing to me, simply because I prefer unsalted peanut butter. The only upside is the 8g of protein, which you can always get from opting for any one of the recommended alternative brands I have suggested.

Check out the recipe site here. Some recipes include:

• Holly Jolly Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
• Peanut Butter Pound Cake

Other 'Creamy' varieties:

• Honey Roast
• Reduced Fat
• Plus
• Whipped

Brand:

• Contains sugar and salt
• Contains [hidden] trans-fats (e.g. hydrogenated oils), despite claiming to have none
• February 14, 2007, ConAgra Foods® recalled all varieties of Peter Pan Peanut Butter
• Read about their 'Going Green' initiatives here (however, a report indicates that Peter Pan has a 'below average' score on climate change policies)
• ConAgra funded anti-GMO labelling project

Review of 'Luna Bar' LemonZest

Luna Bar -- LemonZest (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: well, they described it as having a 'lemon zing' and would you know, it really does! It has a fantastic, thin icing coating on one side that actually works really well. It isn't too sweet and makes the bar taste like a glazed lemon cake. The bar is fairly thick, so with each bite you get a good ricey, crispy chew. It's a medium-sweet bar, but somehow it feels like you're eating a dessert. No lie! I highly recommend this flavour, especially for those who are skeptical of lemon flavoured sweets.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Bulk Barn

Ingredients: LunaPro ® (Soy Rice Crisps Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Rice Flour], Organic Toasted Oats [Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Dried Cane Syrup], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Flaxmeal), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Coating (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Inulin (Chicory Extract), Lemon Fruit Pieces (Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Glucose, Lemon Puree, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural Flavor), Organic Soy Butter (Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soybean Oil, Salt), Organic Oat Syrup Solids, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Organic Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sea Salt.

Nutrition Facts*
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 180
     Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: 2.5g
     Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 115mg
Potassium: 110mg
Total Carbohydrate: 27g
     Dietary fiber: 3g
     Sugars: 13g
Protein: 9g
Vitamin A: 20%
Vitamin C: 20%
Calcium: 35%
Iron: 30%

*Full nutritional profile available here.

So, the ingredients are clean and healthy as per the organic designation. The calorie count is good for the nutrition it provides *and* for how delicious it is. I'm happiest with the 9g protein, 20% vitamin A and C, and 35% calcium. There's also a solid amount of iron, but I usually have no problems meeting my iron needs.

Other flavours:

• Blueberry Bliss (vegan)
• Caramel Nut Brownie (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Chunk (vegan)
• Chocolate Dipped Coconut (vegan)
• Chocolate Peppermint Stick (vegan) (reviewed here)
• Chocolate Raspberry (vegan)
• Iced Oatmeal Raisin (vegan)
• Nutz Over Chocolate (reviewed here) 
• Peanut Butter Cookie (vegan)
• Peanut Honey Pretzel
• S'mores (vegan)
• Toasted Nuts 'n Cranberry (vegan)
• Vanilla Almond (vegan)
• White Chocolate Macadamia (vegan)

Brand (quoted from clifbar.com):

• "...free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup; artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives; and ingredients sourced from GMOs."
• "LUNA provides the nutrients women often lack, like folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals..."
• "LUNA contributes to the Clif Bar Family Foundation, which donates 1% of all product revenue to organizations that support and improve environmental, social and cultural needs, from our local to our global community. 
• Non-GMO
• Clif Bar Family Foundation
• Commitment to Zero Waste
• Climate Action Approach
• Partnerships with American Forests and Trees for the Future
• Organic farming strategy
• Certified Sustainable
• Community involvement (e.g. collaboration with other businesses, volunteering, sharing products, philanthropy)