Is Bear Naked Granola Clean? The Truth Behind the "All Natural" Label

The Short Answer

No, Bear Naked Granola is not clean.

Don't let the "wildly delicious" and "approved by bears" marketing fool you. This brand is owned by WK Kellogg Co and suffers from the same issues as most conventional cereals: inflammatory seed oils, high sugar content, and pesticide residues.

While it is Non-GMO Project Verified, it is not organic. This is a dealbreaker for oat-based products because conventional oats are commonly sprayed with glyphosate (Roundup) as a drying agent before harvest.

Why This Matters

Granola is often sold as a health food, but most brands are just crumbled cookies in a bag. When you start your day with Bear Naked, you are spiking your blood sugar and consuming oils that many health experts recommend avoiding.

Glyphosate contamination is the biggest concern. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has repeatedly found glyphosate levels in conventional oat products that exceed their safety benchmarks for children. Because Bear Naked does not use organic oats, you are rolling the dice with pesticide exposure in every bowl. Glyphosate In Oatmeal

Furthermore, clean granola should use clean fats. Bear Naked relies on canola oil. Clean brands use coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil. Is Purely Elizabeth Clean

What's Actually In Bear Naked

Here is the breakdown of the "Fruit & Nut" variety, one of their best-sellers:

• Whole Grain Oats — Conventional, not organic. High risk of glyphosate contamination. Is Oatmeal Healthy
• Canola Oil — An inflammatory seed oil processed with high heat and often hexane (though they claim "expeller pressed," it is still an industrial oil).
• Cane Sugar & Honey — The sugar load is high. A 1/2 cup serving has 12g of sugar (mostly added).
• Natural Flavors — The "black box" of ingredients. Can contain dozens of incidental additives.
• Soy Lecithin — Found in chocolate varieties; an emulsifier often derived from GMO soy (unless specified otherwise).

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Certified Organic — Essential for oats to avoid glyphosate.
• Coconut or Olive Oil — Stable fats that don't oxidize easily.
• Natural Sweeteners — Maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar (lower glycemic index).
• Under 6g Sugar — Per serving.

Red Flags:

• Canola or Soybean Oil — Cheap, industrial fillers.
• "Non-GMO" without "Organic" — Means no GMOs, but synthetic pesticides are still allowed.
• Syrups — Brown rice syrup, corn syrup, or tapioca syrup as primary ingredients.

The Best Options

If you want a crunch without the chemicals, these brands are far superior.

The Bottom Line

1. Leave it on the shelf. Bear Naked is a legacy brand that hasn't kept up with modern clean eating standards.

2. Check the oil. If the label says "Canola" or "Vegetable Oil," put it back. Look for coconut or olive oil.

3. Go Organic. For any oat product, the "USDA Organic" seal is your only protection against glyphosate.

FAQ

Is Bear Naked Granola gluten-free?

Mostly. Most varieties are labeled "Gluten-Free," but you must check the package. However, they use conventional oats, so cross-contamination with wheat in the field is possible unless they use certified GF oats. Is Oatmeal Gluten Free

Does Bear Naked use glyphosate?

Likely yes. They use conventional (non-organic) oats. Independent testing of conventional oat products consistently reveals glyphosate residues. They are not on the list of glyphosate-free certified brands.

Is Bear Naked "Fit" granola healthy?

Not really. The "Fit" line has less sugar (often using monk fruit), but it still contains canola oil and natural flavors. It is "less bad" than the original, but still not clean.

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References (10)

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10. 10. eatthis.com