Despite the health benefits constantly surrounding cereal bars, the usually branded healthy bars aren’t as healthy as they would seem.

A new study by consumer group Which? revealed that many cereal bars contain high levels of fat and sugar.

All but one of the 30 bars tested were high in sugar, with 16 containing levels above 30%.

One bar, Nutri-Grain Elevenses, contained nearly four teaspoons of sugar more than whats found in a small 150ml can of cola  and 20% of your recommended daily allowance.

It also showed that six of the seven cereal bars targeted at children were high in saturated fat. Monster Puffs,  described as “great for your lunchbox”, contained 43.5% sugar, equivalent to more than two teaspoons-full.

Which? compared  nutritional content of  bars using the manufacturers’ information and applied traffic-light labelling to see whether the levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt were high, medium or low.

Which? urged manufacturers to cut sugar and fat in products meant children and for tighter controls on how they were promoted.