To say "high protein", "rich in protein" or "excellent source of protein", a food needs 20% or more of the Daily Value for protein per reference amount customarily consumed, the standard serving FDA sets for each kind of food. The Daily Value for protein is 50 grams, so the target is 10 grams, but not 10 grams of any protein: the grams are corrected for protein quality by multiplying them by the protein's PDCAAS, a score from 0 to 1.00 for how complete and digestible it is. Whey and egg score near 1.00; many plant proteins score lower, so a bar with 18 grams of plant protein can fall short where a whey bar with the same grams clears it. "Good source of protein" needs 10% to 19%, from 5 up to 10 corrected grams. And making any protein claim means the Nutrition Facts must show the %DV for protein, from the corrected amount. The calculation runs per reference amount, not per bar: grain-based bars have a reference amount of 40 grams, so a 60-gram bar is judged on two-thirds of its protein. In the example below, a bar maker checks three flavors. Below are the rules, the math, the example, and a free calculator.
The short version
- "High protein": 20% or more of the Daily Value per reference amount.
- The protein Daily Value is 50 g, so 10 g, after correction.
- Corrected protein = grams × the protein's PDCAAS, capped at 1.00.
- "Good source of protein": 10% to 19%, from 5 up to 10 corrected grams.
- The math runs per reference amount: 40 g for grain-based bars.
- Any protein claim puts the protein %DV on the Nutrition Facts.
- Plant proteins often score lower, so the same grams can earn a smaller claim.
- TaroStack keeps each recipe's ingredients and versions, so a reformulation is on record. More below.
The rules
| Rule | Where |
|---|---|
| High, rich in, excellent source | 20% or more of the DRV per reference amount (21 CFR 101.54(b)) |
| Good source, contains, provides | 10% to 19% of the DRV per reference amount (101.54(c)) |
| Corrected protein | Grams of protein times the PDCAAS, capped at 1.00 (21 CFR 101.9(c)(7)) |
| Protein %DV | Required on the Nutrition Facts when a protein claim is made (101.9(c)(7)) |
| Protein DRV | 50 grams for adults and children 4 and older (101.9(c)(9)) |
| Reference amounts | Set by kind of food; 40 g for grain-based bars (21 CFR 101.12) |
How the Nutrition Facts is built is in how to make a nutrition label, and why a claim can end a small business's label exemption in nutrition label small business exemption. This is general information, not legal advice.
The math
| Step | Whey bar, 60 g, 18 g protein |
|---|---|
| Protein per reference amount | 18 × 40 ÷ 60 = 12 g |
| Corrected for quality | 12 × 1.00 = 12 g |
| % Daily Value | 12 ÷ 50 = 24% |
| Claim | High protein |
An example: a Salt Lake City bar maker
Bonneville Bar Co., the made-up snack bar maker in Salt Lake City, Utah, I use in these examples, is redesigning its wrappers and wants "high protein" on all three oat-based 60 g bars:
| Bar | Protein a bar | Quality score | Corrected per 40 g | % DV | Claim allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut butter whey | 18 g | 1.00 | 12.0 g | 24.0% | High protein |
| Chocolate almond plant | 18 g | 0.75 | 9.0 g | 18.0% | Good source of protein |
| Oat honey | 9 g | 0.80 | 4.8 g | 9.6% | No protein claim |
The plant bar has the same 18 grams as the whey bar but only earns "good source"; a pea and rice blend with a higher score, or a little more protein, would get it to 10 corrected grams. The oat honey bar stays without a claim, and its wrapper can still list 9 grams in the Nutrition Facts. The quality scores here are illustrative; a lab or a published score for the exact blend is what a label rests on. What the bars cost is in protein bar business plan.
Get the calculator
Download the high protein claim calculator. One sheet: each product's serving, its reference amount, grams of protein and protein quality score, and the corrected protein per reference amount, the %DV and the claim it allows fill in, with "no protein claim" in red. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
A claim rests on the recipe: swap the whey supplier or cut the protein to save cost, and the claim on 20,000 printed wrappers may no longer hold. A calculator doesn't know the recipe changed.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack keeps each recipe's ingredients and versions, so a reformulation is on record.
Recipes with versions. Each bar is a recipe by weight, and recipes keep their versions, so the formula behind a claim, and when it changed, is on record.
Batches record what went in. Each batch records the ingredient lots it used, so a run made with a new protein supplier shows which wrappers went out with it.
Packaging on hand. Wrappers are items with stock, so you know how many printed claims are still in the warehouse before a recipe change.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| The formula behind a claim | A file somewhere | The recipe's version |
| Which runs used the new protein | Unknown | Lots on each batch |
| Printed wrappers left | Count the boxes | Stock of the wrapper item |
Recipes with versions, batches, lots and counts are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.