When you buy Scott’s Protein Balls or make a DIY protein balls recipe at home, you might wonder do protein balls need to be refrigerated. When we make protein balls with fresh, whole, ingredients, refrigeration offers a simple preservation method.
The truth is that many protein balls on the market are shelf-stable, and this should be a red flag. Foods that don’t need to be refrigerated are often highly processed, containing preservatives and other additives that may be detrimental to your health.
In today’s article, we’ll look deeper at ultra-processed foods and the benefits of choosing preservative free options like Scott’s Protein Balls.
The Problem with Some Foods That Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated
Foods that last a long time without refrigeration contain preservatives and additives that extend the shelf life. These foods are ultra-processed, with added sugars, salt, fats, and chemicals to make them hyper-palatable, addictive, and not require refrigeration.
Ultra-processed foods include commonly available options such as soda, fast food, chips, cookies, sugar cereals, baked goods, candy, ice cream, yogurt, shorting, etc. These foods are typically calorie-dense but nutrient-poor and low in fiber. They trigger cravings for more.
The U.S. food supply is 73% ultra-processed, and the Average American eats more of these foods every year. In 2001, Americans ate 53% of their calories from ultra-processed foods, which increased to 57% in 2018. Kids eat even more, with 67% of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods.
Over time, these ultra-processed foods and ingredients contribute to weight gain, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances, and chronic disease.
Benefits of Preservative Free Vs. Ultra-Processed Foods
While ultra-processed foods are cheap and convenient, they aren’t good for our health. To counter the abundance of processed foods in the food supply, we need more unprocessed or minimally processed foods without preservatives.
Preservative-free, whole foods are rich in nutrition, including vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, phytonutrients, and fiber. They contribute more than calories and help to preserve and improve your health.
Scott’s Protein Balls Are Shipped Cold and Should Be Refrigerated
Some protein balls on the market are ultra-processed and don’t require refrigerator food storage. Look for the following ingredients as ultra-processed clues:
- Hydrogenated and ultra-processed oils
- Artificial colors
- Artificial flavors
- High fructose corn syrup and other highly refined sugars
- Artificial sweeteners
- Chemical preservatives,
- Thickening agents and fillers
Here at Scott’s, we do things differently. We use natural, whole, and minimally processed ingredients. We choose ingredients for their quality, nutrient density, and health benefits. We don’t add preservatives or other additives.
For all these reasons, our protein balls support health and require refrigeration. Scott’s Protein Balls are shipped cold, and we suggest using the refrigerator as a natural preservative.
Our Ingredients are: All real, whole foods of course!
We leave out the fillers, binders, emulsifiers, toxicants, artificial food dyes, sweeteners and chemicals as well as common allergens like gluten too.
Reading ingredient lists on packaged items is one of the best things you can do to be a savvy consumer and make better choices for your health.Reading ingredient lists on packaged items is one of the best things you can do to be a savvy consumer and make better choices for your health.
When you look at our ingredient list, you’ll find:
No GMOs
You’ll never find genetically modified organisms in our ingredient list. Hot tip: if a food or ingredient is organic, it’s not GMO!
No Refined Sugar
We use natural sweeteners, including allulose, which is excellent for reducing net carbs!
No Refined Salts
Salt is a common preservative in food, but everyone has different sodium needs, so we skip the added salt in our protein balls.
No Preservatives
We are so proud to bring protein balls to you with no preservatives!
No Artificial Flavors or Colors
We also skip the artificial flavor and color, which are used to cover up undesirable colors and flavors from low-quality ingredients.
No Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils contain trans fats, and keeping them out of our products is non-negotiable. Instead, our protein balls provide healthy fats from whole foods like nuts, seeds, and cacao.
Bottom Line
Food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated could be a red flag for an ultra-processed product, so read the ingredient list to get the full scoop. Scott’s Protein Balls make healthy snacking convenient. And the proof is in our quality ingredients. Find us with the refrigerated foods in your local produce section or order online. We’ll ship cold to deliver the freshest protein balls, without preservatives.
