Top 8: Protein balls are big business — here are the best for taste and value

Read the labels... food supplements are VAT rated at 23%, and protein concentrate is considered a food supplement, but many energy balls have less protein and are taxed at 13.5%

Pic: iStock

Protein and energy balls are big business today so we looked at what was the best value that tasted best.

We found lots of bars in supermarkets that included as much as 50% protein — some derived from whey protein powder from cheese production, some from soya. That sounded fine until we saw they also had high carbs and some artificial sweeteners. One more moderate bar made from nuts, oats and honey from M&S (€3.50 for 5) has a decent 25.8% protein and high 19.6% sugars, and no chemical additives.