Each bar is packed with exceptional plant and fibre diversity, while maintaining food structure, to keep you fuelled and nourished - the opposite of UPF snack bars
A nutrient-dense and deliciously chewy bite slows eating rate to promote a satisfying and mindful snacking experience
ZOE research shows 95% of UK adults snack daily, yet a new survey reveals only 28% view their choices as healthy and 70% feel misled by ingredients - The Gut Health Bar offers a science-led, transparent, and real food snacking solution
ZOE, the gut health science company, has today launched The Gut Health Bar, a nutrient-dense and deliciously chewy snack bar designed by its world-leading scientists. Containing over 10 plant ingredients, the new bar offers exceptional fibre and plant diversity, proving that consumers no longer have to compromise on science or flavour to support their gut microbiome.
The launch comes as ZOE research shows that 95% of the UK population consumes snacks regularly, with around 2 snacks per day, accounting for 25% of calorie daily intake.
Despite this high consumption, the snack aisle remains a minefield. Many products marketed as "healthy" or "high in protein" are ultra-processed, low in fibre, and packed with sugars, additives, and emulsifiers that lack nutritional value. ZOE's research shows that consuming unhealthy snacks can undo the benefits of an otherwise healthy diet.
"The UK is undeniably a nation of snackers, but for too long, the snacking food category has optimised for convenience over nutritional quality and gut health," says Professor Sarah Berry, Chief Scientist at ZOE and Professor of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London. "Snacking itself isn’t the issue; it’s the poor quality of what people are eating. Our research shows that snacking the right way can be highly beneficial for your gut microbiome and overall health."
Built on years of carrying out the world’s largest nutrition study, gut health scientists at ZOE have hand-selected over 10 plants and kept many of their natural structures intact, so that they can travel further down the digestive tract to feed gut microbes.
“We have prioritised plant diversity to create a nutrient-dense win for gut health, including ingredients, such as almonds, cashews, edamame, red lentils, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and even seaweed and kombucha. Topped with 70% high quality dark chocolate or raspberries, The Gut Health Bars are big on diverse plants, fibres and flavour” explains Professor Berry.
While standard snacks like crisps, cookies, and chocolate bars are industrially refined to be eaten in seconds, ZOE has preserved the food matrix in The Gut Health Bar to slow eating rate.
ZOE research shows that fast eaters consume an average of 120 more calories per day than slow eaters. However, simply reducing eating speed by around 20% can lead to a reduction in energy intake of around 15%. The ZOE Gut Health Bar is designed with an intact food matrix to slow the eating rate down, transforming snacking into a satisfying, mindful experience.
“The ZOE Gut Health Bar is designed to be savoured, not inhaled. It has a deliciously chewy texture with many whole ingredients that take time to eat. This is intentional, and is something most bars lack,” adds Professor Berry.
Among the many key plant ingredients include nuts and seeds as these are high in healthy fats and provide vital fuel for the gut microbiome.
The Snacking Breakdown: Key Survey Findings
A new survey of 1,000 UK respondents commissioned by ZOE shows:
Only 28% view their snacking as somewhat or very healthy despite the frequency, while 70% feel misled by ingredient lists
68% of people consume a type of bar (snack bar, cereal bar, protein bar) as their snack of choice
Crisps (63%), biscuits (54%), and chocolate (50%) remain the most consumed snacks after bars
Whilst 57% prioritise convenience and 45% seek low prices, 31% actively look for protein in snacks, making it the third most important selection factor, ahead of sugar content (24%)
Nutritional confusion is rampant: almost half, 47%, agree low-fat snacks are healthiest; meanwhile, 44% reject the idea that fat-containing snacks are healthy
Only 36% believe protein bars are the healthiest choice despite protein being the third most sought-after factor
"The modern food environment is stacked against us, flooded with ultra-processed snacks designed around marketing buzzwords rather than actual gut health nutrition. At ZOE, we are rewriting the rulebook,” says Professor Tim Spector, Scientific Co-Founder of ZOE. "We have designed The Gut Health Bar to prove that snacking doesn’t have to compromise on science or flavour - we’re delivering real, whole plant nutrition that works to improve your gut health, while keeping your tastebuds satisfied on the go.”
“The launch of our Gut Health Bar is another step in our journey to take our gut health science and turn it into simple, everyday products. I’m delighted that it tastes delicious, while knowing I’m doing something good for my health” says Jonathan Wolf, CEO and Scientific Co-Founder of ZOE. “I constantly struggle with something healthy to eat while on the go, and given snacks are a quarter of the food we consume in the UK, I am not alone. It’s exciting to think that something as simple as a gut health snack bar can really help in our mission to improve the health of millions.”
