Quest Bars - Soluble Corn Fiber

[JamieLogical 8,710]

So, a few weeks ago, I received my latest shipment of chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest Bars. I noticed they had a slightly different taste and texture, but didn't think much of it, because I've noticed some variation in batches of Quest Bars before. But then I started getting really gassy in the past two weeks or so. Like really gross smelling gas and loose stool. After talking to a coworker who also eats Quest Bars, I realized that Quest Nutrition has been phasing out Isomalto-Oligosaccharide in all of their bars and replacing it with Soluble Corn Fiber. Now both of these are "fake" fiber and have their various issues, but at least the former didn't make me horribly gassy. I've now been soluble corn fiber free for a day and a half and the gas has stopped, so I know that was the issue.

I managed to find one more box of the old version of Quest Bars, but I'm very sad to have to be switching away from them. I loved them SO much. Now I'm trying Muscle Pharm's Combat Crunch bars and they are tasty, but very candy bar like, which can be cloyingly sweet. The also have slightly more calories and more net carbs than the Quest Bars. I guess I will have to keep searching for something that tastes good, has plenty of Protein, has few carbs, and doesn't make me sick.

[Daveo 485]

interesting, I'm going to have to check my bars.

[liannatx 897]

Thanks for the heads up. I don't have them often, but I do love them.

[Indieflickers 298]

Thanks for sharing! I was wondering why they tastes a little different. I'm glad I wasn't just hallucinating.

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

You are at goal and obviously maintaining well so not directed at you at all... but Quest were some of my fave Protein bars that I never eat anymore. I found them... seductive in a candy bar kind of way. I question what is in them that makes me "want them" - ha. I am suspicious of their ingredients and nutrition info. and i still love them.. in a distant kind of way.. (my snickers bars are way more distant, but I think you maintainers know what I am talking about!)

[Indieflickers 298]

@@CowgirlJane I can definitely see that. It's funny, I have one a day and I always look forward to it like it really is a candy bar but they never live up to expectations. But I forget the next day. They do fulfil certain cravings I have though and, to me, they're the best tasting bar I've found that has the right about of Protein, calories, and sugar.

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

@Indieflickers I seldom eat Protein bars, and when I do they are the horrible Premier Protein... so many of the rest trigger snickers bars memories and cravings... ha! You would think after all these YEARS that would go away... no.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@CowgirlJane I was really hoping I'd like the Premier Protein or the pure Protein Bars because they're so much cheaper than Quest, but alas. It's great that you identified them as a trigger though.

[able2cope 193]

I love Quest apple pie bars - I'm in the uk though, so can only buy through ebay or more usually amazon... the ones I get don't seem to have moved over to the new ingredients, but its definetly something I'm going to have to look out for - thanks for the heads up.

[amazon 579]

Oh my...I love my Quest bars. They do satisfy my sweet tooth. But like you, in the past month or so I almost can't be in the same room with myself. Please don't be from my Quest bars!!!

Guess I'll stop having them for a bit to see if things improve. Sigh.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@amazon @@CowgirlJane sometimes I wonder if it's the sucralose. That's one of the many reasons I try to limit my sucralose intake - I think it makes my sugar cravings worse. Plus it gives me a headache if I eat too much. A Quest bar a day is about all the sucralose I can stand. I made sure nothing else I eat contains it.

[amazon 579]

I'm not sure. I've been eating them for over a year. This has been a recent problem.

[Thinside 155]

Hmm, I'm new to the whole Protein bar thing. I found that one Quest bar -- the Peanut Butter -- tasted great but gave me horrible gas. So far I like the Mixed berry the best. Couldn't stand the Mint chocolate chunk or the chocolate chip cookie dough. But I have no idea if these were the old or new recipe.

I've been trying a lot of bars to find one that has a good amount of Protein, lower carbs, some Fiber, doesn't cause gas, and isn't too sweet. Not fairing too well in my search.

The Muscle MIlk chocolate Peanut Butter is ok, but too much like candy. So, I've been sticked with the Quest mixed berry for now.

How can you tell if it has the new fiber -- is it pretty clearly indicated on the package? Thanks for this heads up!

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Thinside it's good that you're experimenting to find what you like. It's really hard to find a good one that meets all the requirements (not too high in calories, low sugar, high Protein, not to mention taste.)

[JamieLogical 8,710]

How can you tell if it has the new fiber -- is it pretty clearly indicated on the package? Thanks for this heads up!

It's on the ingredient list. Right after the Protein blend, which is the first ingredient. If it says "soluble corn fiber", you've got the new formula.