CLIF® BAR “Fun Ride to the Academy” Gives Bike Riders Free Admission to California Academy of Sciences

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CLIF^® BAR is giving people a chance to pedal their way into one of San Francisco’s greatest adventures for free. As part of its 2 Mile Challenge bike advocacy program, CLIF BAR is offering free admission to the California Academy of Sciences (valued at up to $24.95 per ticket) for the first 100 folks who arrive by bicycle. The CLIF BAR “Fun Ride to the Academy” takes place on Sunday, August 22. More details are below:

WHAT:

• Free admission to California Academy of Sciences for first 100 people who arrive on bicycles
• Free bike valet, offered by San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. to the first 100 people who arrive by bicycle
• Free CLIF BAR samples to the first 200 people who arrive by bicycle

WHEN:

• Sunday, August 22, 2010; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Coincides with San Francisco’s Sunday Streets event – Golden Gate Park to the Great Highway will be closed to cars

WHERE:

• California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park
• CLIF BAR ticket distribution and bike valet located on the east side of the Academy (the side farthest away from the Music Concourse band shell)

WHY:

• Bike riding is fun for the entire family
• CLIF BAR is committed to fighting climate change through its 2 Mile Challenge bike advocacy program. This nationwide campaign encourages people to ride a bike instead of driving a car for trips two miles or less to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change.
• In the U.S., 40 percent of all urban trips are two miles or less, and 90 percent of those trips are made by car.
• Every mile traveled by bike instead of car prevents one pound of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, according to the Climate Leadership Initiative at the University of Oregon. Car-generated carbon dioxide is one of the leading causes of global climate change.

About Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, all-natural, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the company is committed to sustaining its people, brands, business, community and planet. (www.clifbar.com)

Clif Bar: Black Cherry Almond

Clif’s Black Cherry Almond is part of its energy bar line-up. It’s a substantial 2.4 oz and 250 calories. The product has a whopping 10g of protein and a respectable  5g of fiber. The bar is organic rice syrup mixed with soy, oats, almonds, cranberries and cherries. The mix is moist but crunchy. Almond flavor really comes through, although we didn’t taste much cherry. It should be noted that this bar also manages to hold a large mix of supplemented vitamins and minerals without it adversely affecting the flavor. The label indicates that Clif is part of 1% for the Planet, which means that Clif donates 1% of revenues to green charities (note: this is total revenue, not just profits).  This means Clif is a company that puts their money where their mouth is. We love this product and we admire Clif.

5 out of 5 stars

Clif Bar Crunch: Chocolate Chip

Clif Crunch is Clif’s granola bar line, which is very similar to what you’d get from the likes of Nature Valley – two thin granola bars stacked on top of one another.  Fortunately, this bar does have its own identity, with a slightly softer consistency that doesn’t crunch as much as the competition.  The flavor is heavy on the oats and rice crisps, while added sugar gives the bar a relatively sweet taste.  They weren’t stingy with the chocolate chips, which makes for a nice complement to the oat flavor at the base of the bar.  Nutritionally, this bar is basically an enhanced snack product, with 180 calories, 1g of fat, 3g of fiber, 4g of protein, potassium, iron, and calcium present in the product.  The wrapper is colorful and clean and makes good use of Clif’s branding to the point where it should be easily identifiable to most consumers.  Overall, Clif’s first entry into the granola bar market is a good one.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif C: Apple

Clif C’s Apple is a 9 ingredient bar that is made with dates, almonds, apples, macadamia nuts, apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, sea salt, and natural vitamin E. From a flavor point of view, this bar is soft and chewy, with a heavy note of apple and date providing the base flavor. Plus, the addition of chopped nuts and a touch of salt provide a savory note and a light crunch to round things out. All in all, it’s a very balanced flavor that’s easy to devour quickly, especially at the bar’s smallish 1.4 ounce size. Nutritionally, the bar has 130 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 4g of fiber, and 2g of protein. Like the rest of the Clif C line, the bar uses a clear wrapper which allows you to see the bar before opening the wrapper. Put all of this together and you’ve got a bar that’s visually appealing and very enjoyable to eat.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Luna: Caramel Nut Brownie

Luna’s Caramel Nut Brownie bar is an especially good one, both in terms of the nutrition content and the bar’s flavor. It’s definitely one of the more indulgent bars that we’ve seen from Clif’s Luna Bar lineup, with a sweet chocolate flavored soy, rice, and oat base (70% organic). From there, they’ve drizzled chocolate and caramel on the top of the bar, while the bottom also has a decadent chocolate coating. As a result, the bar is chewy but has some slight crunch and it’s sticky to the touch — so you might want to eat it directly from the wrapper. Nutritionally, this 180 calorie bar has 8g of protein, 1g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and minerals. Also notable is their promotion of the bar’s “Low Glycemic” index, thanks to the use of brown rice syrup as the bar’s sweetener. So, if you’re looking for a snack that’s more than just empty calories, this is a great choice. On the outside, the new Luna bar look is great, with clean illustrations that give the bar a look that should fit well with the yoga crowd that this bar is meant for. Definitely one of the better Luna Bars that we’ve sampled.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

While there’s not a ton of crunch to the bar, there’s a nice dose of peanut butter flavor to this bar. The addition of peanut butter also adds a fair amount of chew to the bar, while oats, soy crisps, and a touch of chocolate chips give the bar some crunch on the way out. We can’t help but feel as though there should be more to the chocolate flavor – it’s really muted in its current form. So really, this bar is like a more chewy version of your typical Clif Bar. That’s not a bad thing, but more a question of preference. In terms of substance and nutrition, this bar has 260 calories, 6g of fat, 11g of protein, 5g of fiber, and a bevy of vitamins and minerals. Plus, it does a nice job of satisfying hunger and a sweet tooth craving all in one shot. On the outside, it looks just like every other Clif Bar wrapper, which, in our opinion, could use a few more visual differences than just a color change in the mountain graphic. Overall, another solid bar from Clif – but not one that’s going to get anyone overly excited.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Maple Nut

Maple Nut is one of the more enjoyable Clif Bar flavors that we’ve sampled. It tastes like exactly what the name implies, with a soft but slightly crunchy body that has just the right amount of maple flavor to it. There’s also a touch of salt to the finish, which gives the product a slightly savory note that helps balance everything out. In terms of ingredients, the bar’s key ingredients are organic oats and soy rice crisps, which help to add some substance and nutrition to the bar. They also account for the bar’s soft, but crunchy texture, which is quite pleasing and further adds to the sense of substance. Nutritionally, the bar has 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, 240 calories, and an ample dose of over a dozen vitamins and minerals. It’s a great choice if you need a snack before a workout or something to help get you through a long afternoon. Packaging is clean and appealing, although we’re not sure why the color purple was chosen to go with a maple and nut flavored bar. Still, the overall product is extremely good and we’d definitely reach for it again.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar & Company Gives Protein Some Zest With New Lemon-Flavored CLIF Builder’s™ Bar

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clif Bar & Company is bringing the refreshingly tangy taste of lemon to its CLIF Builder’s™ protein bar lineup. Read more

Clif Mojo: Honey Roasted Peanut

Beware starting this one, as the mix of sweet and salty peanuts definitely means you’ll have to finish it. It’s heavy on the nuts, which means plenty of protein, but also plenty of crunch and chew from the mixture of rice, rice syrup, and bits of pretzel. At 70 percent organic, it’s got some virtue, but mostly, it’s got the taste of peanut butter candy. Great stuff.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 200
Fat: 10 g
Carbs: 20g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 10 g

Clif Bar: Chocolate Almond Fudge

As far as Clif Bar products go, this is definitely one of the more indulgent tasting bars that we’ve sampled. It uses a base of organic oats and soy, which have been nicely paired with a strong dose of chocolate / cocoa flavor and a small dose of nuts to provide some crunch. Like most other Clif Bars, this product has a soft, but very chewy consistency, which helps give this product a feeling of substance. There’s a lot of stuff in this bar, including rolled oats, soy crisps, roasted soybeans, chocolate chips, nuts, and loads of added vitamins and minerals. The result is something that tastes great and has a lot of nutrition to it, including 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, and vitamins A,C,E,B1,B2,B3, and B6, just to name a few. On the exterior, the label is classic Cliff Bar, which makes it instantly recognizable. However, the use of the color red as the accent color isn’t what one would naturally choose for a bar called Chocolate Almond Fudge (maybe something dark or brown?). Overall, a very enjoyable and energizing bar.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Blueberry Crisp

Made with organic oats and soybeans, Clif’s Blueberry Crisp bar has a pleasant tasting base that’s very chewy with a slightly crispy finish. There’s a fair amount of flavor to this bar, with the oats and blueberries providing the majority of the flavor, while an earthy note added flax seed and oat bran. It’s a relatively sweet bar, but not too sweet to the point where you can’t consume it during physical activity. Functionally, this bar definitely has some sustenance to it, with 240 calories, 5g of fiber, 9g of protein, and loads of vitamins and minerals. It’s just the right portion for a quick pick me up – or even to replace a light meal. Packaging has a “crunchy” vibe to it, complete with brown toned colors and an image of a mountain climber. It’s appealing and credible, especially given the equity that exists in the Clif Bar brand name. Overall, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar Builders: Lemon

The latest addition to Clif’s “Builders” lineup is a lemon variety, which has a flavor that’s very reminiscent of Clif’s Lemon Zest Luna Bar. Regardless, it’s a pretty enjoyable bar that has a chewy base of crisped rice. On top of that, they’ve given the bar a lemon glaze, which adds a touch of indulgence to the bar. It’s 2.4 ounces in size and has 20g of protein to it, which is extremely good considering the bar’s generally pleasing taste. The only bump in the road is the finish, which is slightly bitter before finishing off with an aftertaste. Label design is clean and appealing, with something that fits well with the rest of the Clif Builders lineup. Overall, it’s good, especially if you are looking for a lot of protein, but we’d love it more if the finish were a bit more smooth.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Bar Companies at Expo West 2009 — Are you going?

Our list of bar exhibitors that will be at the 2009 Expo West Show in Anaheim.  Are you going?  Let us know — we’d love to stop by.

Read more

Clif Bar & Company Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall

Clif Bar & Company Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of CLIF® and LUNA® Branded Bars Containing Peanut Butter Due to Possible Health Risk

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clif Bar & Company today announced a voluntary recall of CLIF® and LUNA® branded bars that contain peanut butter because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products contain peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning a recent Salmonella outbreak thought to be caused by tainted peanut butter.

The following Clif Bar & Company products with “Best By/Sell By” dates ranging as shown below, in all sizes and packages, are included in the recall:

Clif Bar Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09

Clif Bar Crunchy Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09, and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09

Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz
BEST BY/SELL BY: only 13SEP09

ZBaR Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 07JUL09 to 05SEP09, and 12NOV09

Clif Builders Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY: 19JUL09 to 30SEP09, and 05NOV09 to 18NOV09

Luna Nutz over Chocolate
BEST BY/SELL BY: 29JUL09 to 03OCT09, 11NOV09 to 14NOV09

Luna Peanut Butter Cookie
BEST BY/SELL BY: 02OCT09 to 03OCT09, and 11NOV09 to 14NOV09

All Clif Mojo Bars
BEST BY/SELL BY: 30APR09 to 21JUN09

These products were sold in grocery, warehouse and other retail stores throughout the United States.

No other CLIF or LUNA products or flavors are included in this recall.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. For more information on Salmonella, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products are urged to destroy them but retain the “Best By/Sell By” code found on the back of the package. Consumers with questions or who would like a refund may contact Clif Bar & Company at 1-800-CLIFBAR (1-800-254-3227). Details also can be found at www.clifbar.com.

“With an abundance of caution and given the FDA’s ongoing investigation of PCA, we’re doing all we can to ensure consumer safety and trust,” said Gary Erickson, owner and founder of Clif Bar & Company.

About Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar & Company (www.clifbar.com) is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks, including the CLIF® BAR energy bar and LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®. Focused on great food and sustainability, Clif Bar & Company works diligently to reduce its footprint on the planet from the field to the final product.

Clif Bar Nectar: Apple Cinnamon

This bar is our favorite of the Clif Nectar lineup – and probably one of our favorite bars that Clif has ever produced.  Designed to deliver two servings of fruit per 160 calorie bar, this delightful tasting bar has apples, dates, cinnamon, hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as a few other ingredients. The resulting flavor is spot on, delivering a well balanced fruit and nut flavor with just the right amount of spice. It’s chewy and soft, with a pleasing feeling in your mouth.  Nutritionally, this bar’s respectable 160 calories, 6g of fiber, 2g of protein, and vitamin content make it something that won’t blow your diet.    Packaging has an earthy and nutrition focused vibe to it, but we’d like to see the flavor name and the “fruit & nut bar” text a bit more prominent.  However, prime place of the USDA Organic seal and “2 servings of fruit” seems like a good idea.  Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Clif Bar Mojo: Chocolate Peanut

Salty and sweet, this trail mix bar has a granola bar like flavor that has a chocolate coated bottom.  It’s got a decent amount of crunch and chew, but there isn’t as much peanut flavor as we would have liked.  Otherwise, the product is on the candy end of the bar spectrum, given its rather indulgent flavor.  From a nutritional point of view, the bar has 210 calories, 10g of fat, 9g of protein, and 2g of fiber — so it’s in the middle of the road as far as the competition goes.  Packaging makes use of the Clif and Mojo logos, which certainly will grab eyes.  So will the word “dipped,” which definitely sets the tone for this rich tasting bar. Overall, this isn’t a meal replacement bar, but certainly makes for a satisfying snack.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Calories: 210
Fat: 10g
Protein: 9g
Fiber: 2g