What is in a Snickers Bar? The candy Snickers has been around since 1930. Its name originates from a horse that was a favorite of the Mars family called “Snickers�. Millions upon millions of Snickers bars are sold per year making it one of the most popular candy bars in the world. It is evident that so many people love Snickers, but what exactly is in these bars? Below we break down the nutrition and ingredients of the famous candy. Our focus is on the traditional 52.7 gram bar that you find at the grocery store check-out or at the gas station.
Snickers Ingredients: Sugar - Obviously, Snickers is a candy so it is it has sugar, but how much? It has 26 grams per bar, which is about 4 cubes of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 36 grams per day for men, 20 grams for women, and 12 grams for children. Cocoa Butter - Cocoa butter is made from roasting and pressing cocoa beans. Cocoa butter helps deter rancidity from its antioxidant properties. It also helps a chocolate bar like a Snickers maintain its shape while melting in your mouth when consumed. This is because cocoa butter has the ability to main as a solid up to the point of reaching body temperature where it begins to melt. Chocolate - No need to explain here. We all know about chocolate. Skim Milk - Milk which has had most of its fat (cream) removed. Lactose - Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products derived from milk. It is a natural substance that is even found in human milk. People who have trouble breaking down lactose in their body may be lactose intolerant. Milkfat - This is the fat part of milk, which is also known as butterfat. Soy Lecithin - is the oil texture liquid found in soybeans. It helps bind together the ingredients in Snickers so they do not separate. Peanuts - An obvious ingredient in a Snickers. Corn Syrup - Syrup made from corn kernels, which is used to help keep candy smooth by preventing crystallization in sugar. It also is used as a sweetener and thickener. Palm Oil - Made from palm fruit and is known as a vegetable oil. There are studies that show that palm oil may be a cause of increased cardiovascular disease. Other studies show that it may provide health benefits such as increased good cholesterol. Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil - This is added to maintain a longer shelf life and as a replacement for butter since it has a similar texture. The downside is that it likely contains trans-fat, which can raise cholesterol and increase the risk for heart disease.