Are there any dairy-free built bars?

Built Bars are a popular protein bar that contain whey protein, an ingredient derived from milk. This means many Built Bar flavors contain dairy. However, Built Bar does offer some dairy-free options for those with lactose intolerance or avoiding dairy for other reasons.

Overview of Built Bars

Built Bars are protein bars made by the company Built Bar LLC. They contain a mix of proteins, fiber, and nutrients. Some of the main features of Built Bars include:

  • Around 130 calories per bar
  • On average 17g of protein per bar
  • Around 15g of fiber per bar
  • Low sugar compared to other protein bars
  • No artificial sweeteners – uses alternative sweeteners like erythritol and allulose instead
  • Variety of flavors – over 25 flavors currently available

The two main protein sources used in Built Bars are whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate. These proteins are derived from milk, which means many Built Bar flavors contain traces of dairy.

Built Bar Flavors with Dairy

Here is an overview of the Built Bar flavors that contain dairy ingredients:

  • Salted Caramel – contains whey protein isolate
  • Coconut – contains whey protein isolate
  • Raspberry – contains whey protein isolate
  • Chocolate – contains milk protein isolate
  • Peanut Butter Brownie – contains whey protein isolate
  • Lemon Cheesecake – contains whey protein
  • Orange Cream – contains whey protein isolate
  • Banana Cream Pie – contains whey protein isolate
  • Strawberry Cream Cheese – contains whey protein isolate

So the above flavors all contain milk-derived proteins. Anyone avoiding dairy for dietary reasons would need to avoid those specific Built Bar flavors.

Built Bar Flavors without Dairy

While many Built Bars contain dairy, Built Bar does offer some completely dairy-free protein bar options:

  • Cherry Barcia – contains brown rice protein
  • Gingerbread – contains pea protein
  • Chocolate Mint – contains pea protein
  • Almond Brownie – contains pea protein
  • Salted Caramel Brownie – contains pea protein
  • Cookies n’ Cream – contains pea protein
  • Coconut Almond – contains pea protein
  • Raspberry White Chocolate – contains pea protein
  • Lemon Cake – contains pea protein
  • Toasted Coconut – contains pea protein
  • Cinnamon Roll – contains pea protein
  • Black Cherry – contains pea protein

The dairy-free Built Bars use plant-based proteins like brown rice protein and pea protein instead of whey or milk proteins. This makes them suitable for vegans and those avoiding dairy.

Nutrition Comparison

Here is a nutrition comparison between some of the dairy and non-dairy Built Bars:

Flavor Protein Fiber Fat Carbs
Salted Caramel (dairy) 17g 15g 8g 7g
Gingerbread (non-dairy) 20g 16g 5g 8g
Banana Cream Pie (dairy) 16g 5g 9g 12g
Toasted Coconut (non-dairy) 13g 15g 7g 4g

As you can see, the dairy and non-dairy Built Bars have fairly comparable nutrition profiles. The protein, carb, fat, and fiber contents are all in the same ballpark.

One difference is that the non-dairy Built Bars tend to be a bit higher in protein on average. For example, the Gingerbread flavor has 20g protein compared to 17g in the Salted Caramel bar.

Taste Comparison

In terms of taste, most customers seem to agree that the dairy and non-dairy Built Bars have a very similar taste and texture. Here are some thoughts on how the dairy and non-dairy options compare:

  • The non-dairy chocolate flavors are rich and chocolatey, very similar to the milk chocolate flavors.
  • Flavors like Salted Caramel and Coconut taste creamy and sweet even without dairy.
  • You can’t really detect a difference in texture between the whey protein and plant proteins.
  • Overall the non-dairy varieties have the same satisfying, chewy texture of the regular Built Bars.

So while everyone has their personal preferences, most people seem to really enjoy the taste of both the dairy and non-dairy Built Bar flavors.

Where to Buy Dairy-Free Built Bars

You can buy Built Bar’s dairy-free protein bars from the following places:

  • Built Bar Website: Order all flavors directly from BuiltBar.com and customize your order.
  • Amazon: Search for Built Bar on Amazon to find many of the dairy-free options.
  • Retail Stores: Certain stores like GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, and Whole Foods may carry dairy-free Built Bar flavors.

Be sure to double check the ingredients before purchasing, as not all stores carry the non-dairy varieties.

Are Built Bars gluten-free?

Most Built Bar flavors are gluten-free as well as dairy-free. However, there are a few exceptions:

  • The flavors Banana Cream Pie, Salted Caramel Brownie, and Orange Cream contain gluten.
  • All other Built Bar flavors are gluten-free.

So if you need to avoid gluten as well as dairy, simply stick with the gluten-free flavors.

Other Dairy-Free Protein Bars

Here are some other popular dairy-free protein bar brands to consider:

  • RXBAR: Entirely plant-based with egg white protein and simple ingredients.
  • Perfect Bar: Uses alternate milks and proteins like pea protein. Refrigerated bars.
  • No Cow Bar: Vegan protein bars sweetened with stevia and monk fruit.
  • GoMacro Bar: Vegan macrobiotic bars made from brown rice protein.

There are lots of great dairy-free protein bar options beyond just Built Bars. Try out a variety to find your favorites.

Are Built Bars Safe for People with Lactose Intolerance?

Built Bars that contain whey or milk protein are not safe for people with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies.

Lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to fully digest lactose, the natural sugar found in dairy products. Dairy ingredients like whey and milk protein still contain traces of lactose.

Consuming Built Bars with these dairy-derived proteins could potentially cause gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea in someone with lactose intolerance. The lactose content is not high enough to cause issues for everyone, but it varies individually.

For this reason, it’s best for lactose intolerant individuals to stick to the dairy-free Built Bar flavors that use alternate proteins like pea protein or brown rice protein.

Summary

In summary:

  • Built Bar offers around 12 flavors that are completely dairy-free and use plant proteins.
  • The dairy-free Built Bars have similar nutrition, texture, and taste compared to the dairy-containing ones.
  • You can purchase the non-dairy Built Bars directly from their website, Amazon, or certain retail stores.
  • Other great dairy-free protein bars include RXBAR, Perfect Bar, No Cow, and GoMacro.
  • Built Bars with whey or milk protein are unsafe for people with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies.

Conclusion

While Built Bars are known for their mix of whey and milk proteins, they do offer a solid lineup of dairy-free options made with plant-based protein. The dairy-free Built Bars maintain the same great taste and nutrition profile as the original bars. So those avoiding dairy for health or dietary reasons can still enjoy this popular protein bar!

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