Cereal bars not so healthy after all

London: Cereal bars that people eat believing they are healthier than biscuits and chocolate may not be so healthy, consumer experts have said.

Researchers looked at 30 bars -- including seven specifically aimed at children -- and found many contained high levels of fat and sugar, the Daily Express reported. One bar contained nearly four teaspoons of sugar (18 grams), which is more than in a small 150 ml can of cola (15.9 grams) and 20 percent of the recommended daily allowance for an adult woman. One roasted nut bar was almost one-third fat, that included peanuts, hazelnuts, vegetable fat and harmful hydrogenated fats. A children`s bar marketed as "great for your lunchbox" contained 43.5 percent sugar. The Which? magazine asked manufacturers for labelling on packages based on levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. IANS