No Added Sugar Fruit Snacks Compared: Zombie vs Bear vs Fruit Bowl [2026]

Why do some fruit snacks taste like actual fruit while others remind you of sweetened cardboard? That's the question that led me down a rabbit hole of fruit leather testing—my desk now resembles a child's lunchbox explosion, and my colleagues have stopped asking questions.

If you're a parent hunting for genuinely healthy snacks that won't get confiscated at the school gates, you've likely encountered the same three names: Zombie Snacks, Bear Yoyos, and Fruit Bowl. All claim to be 100% fruit. All promise no added sugar. All cost roughly the same. But which one is actually worth your money—and more importantly, which one will your child actually eat rather than trade for a Dairylea Dunker?

After two weeks of methodical testing (and one unfortunate incident involving melted mango bars in my jacket pocket), I've got answers.

The Contenders: What Makes Each Brand Different?

Before we get into the head-to-head results, let's establish what we're actually comparing here. These three brands might look similar on the shelf, but they're targeting slightly different audiences with noticeably different approaches.

Zombie Snacks: The Teen-Friendly Newcomer

Zombie Snacks launched into Tesco through their Accelerator Programme and has been making waves with its decidedly un-cute branding. Founded by Ann Perkins (who previously created Perkier bars), Zombie targets the 10-to-30 age bracket—essentially, anyone who's grown out of the cartoon character phase but still wants convenient fruit on the go.

The range includes flavours like StrawBuried (strawberry, apple and lemon), Man-ghouled Mango (mango and apple), Blackberry Death (blackberry, apple and lemon), and Twisted Orange. They're B Corp certified, carbon neutral, and completely allergen-free, making them genuinely school-safe.

What caught my attention is that each 25g bar apparently contains 170g of fruit squished into it. I'll be honest—I'm still trying to work out the physics of that claim.

Bear Yoyos: The Established Market Leader

Bear has been in the kids' fruit snacks game for over a decade, and with 2,900 monthly searches in the UK for "bear yoyo" alone, they're clearly the most recognised name in this space. The brand built its reputation on fruit rolls made from whole fruit baked slowly at low temperatures to preserve nutrients.

Their product range is extensive—from classic strawberry and raspberry rolls to the more adventurous "sour" variants for older kids. Each Yoyo counts as one of your five a day and provides about 1g of fibre, roughly the same as a small bowl of porridge.

The collectible cards included in every pack are genius marketing, frankly. My neighbour's eight-year-old has been demanding Bear Yoyos specifically because she's two cards away from completing her set.

Fruit Bowl: The Supermarket Staple

Fruit Bowl has been quietly stocking supermarket shelves for years with a broader range than either competitor. Their lineup includes Peelers (sticky stranded snacks), School Bars, Fruit Flakes, and Yoghurt Coated Raisins—far more variety than the single-format offerings from Zombie or Bear.

Available at Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Co-op, Asda, Waitrose, and Ocado, Fruit Bowl has the widest distribution of the three. But wider availability doesn't necessarily mean better product—something my testing would reveal.

The Taste Test: Honest Verdicts from My Kitchen

I ran a blind taste test with four participants: myself, my partner (who claims to hate fruit leather), and two children aged 9 and 12 borrowed from next door with parental permission. Each taster tried all three brands without knowing which was which.

Zombie Snacks

The Man-ghouled Mango was the clear winner in our test—chewy without being plasticky, with genuine mango flavour rather than the artificial tang you get from some brands. The 12-year-old declared it "actually really good" which, if you've ever tried to impress a preteen, you'll know is practically a Michelin star.

The StrawBuried flavour performed well too, though the apple base was more prominent than the strawberry. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing if your child is a strawberry purist.

The downside? The texture is slightly stickier than Bear, which could be an issue if your kids are eating these in the car. I learned this the hard way on the A1 last Thursday.

Bear Yoyos

The strawberry Yoyo remains excellent after all these years—a good balance of sweet and tart with a satisfyingly chewy texture. The raspberry variant was similarly well-received, though our 9-year-old tester felt it was "too sour" (her brother disagreed, so your mileage may vary).

Bear's texture is slightly drier than Zombie's, which actually works in its favour for lunchbox purposes—less likely to stick to wrappers or fingers. My partner, the self-proclaimed fruit leather hater, admitted these "weren't bad" and proceeded to eat three.

What I didn't love: the sour variants marketed at older kids tasted artificially citrusy to me, like someone had sprinkled a Refresher on a perfectly good fruit roll.

Fruit Bowl

Here's where it gets controversial. The Fruit Bowl School Bars were... fine. Perfectly edible. But in a direct comparison, they lacked the intensity of flavour that both Zombie and Bear delivered.

The Peelers performed better—the sticky, stranded texture was actually quite fun, and the blackcurrant flavour was genuinely tangy. However, one reviewer I came across described the Strawberry Fruit Flakes as "a bit floury" and, upon tasting them, I can't disagree. There's a slightly powdery coating that Zombie and Bear don't have.

The Yoghurt Coated Raisins are delicious but—and this is important—they're not really in the same category. They contain dairy, which rules them out for allergen-free requirements.

Ingredient Comparison: What's Actually In These?

All three brands claim "100% fruit" or "no added sugar," but the devil is in the details. Let's break down what you're actually buying.

The standout here is Zombie's allergen-free status across their entire range. For parents dealing with allergies—or schools with strict no-nut, no-dairy policies—this matters enormously.

Bear uses whole fruit rather than concentrates, which they claim preserves more fibre and vitamins. The slow-baking process at temperatures below 108°F is designed to maintain nutritional value. Having looked at several independent analyses, the science appears sound.

Fruit Bowl's use of fruit purées rather than whole fruit is a different approach. It's not necessarily worse, but it does mean a different nutritional profile—potentially less fibre and more concentrated sugars, even without adding any.

Price Per Bar: Where Your Money Goes

Let's talk numbers. Based on current UK supermarket pricing:

At first glance, Fruit Bowl appears to offer the best value. But wait—look at the weights. Zombie's bars are 25g versus Bear's 20g and Fruit Bowl's variable 18-20g. When you calculate price per gram, the picture shifts.

Fruit Bowl still edges ahead on pure value, but Zombie's larger portions mean kids are less likely to demand a second one immediately after finishing the first. Depending on your child's appetite, Zombie might actually work out more economical in practice.

School-Friendliness: The Lunchbox Litmus Test

If you've received one of those letters from school about "healthy lunchbox guidelines" (every parent in Britain has that letter burned into their memory), you'll know that not all fruit snacks pass muster.

All three brands tick the following boxes:

• Count as one of your five a day
• No added sugar
• No artificial colours or flavours
• Gluten-free

Zombie Snacks goes further with:

• Completely allergen-free (no nuts, dairy, soy, sesame, egg, or gluten)
• Halal and Kosher certified
• B Corp and carbon neutral credentials

For schools with strict allergen policies—and many now operate "nut-free" or "dairy-free" zones—Zombie is the safest bet. I know several parents who've had Bear Yoyos flagged by teachers simply because of unfamiliarity with the brand, so carrying the "allergen-free" label prominently is genuinely useful.

Actually, one thing worth mentioning: some schools have started questioning fruit snacks entirely because of the "as much sugar as three Jelly Babies" headlines that circulated a few years ago. All the sugar in these products is naturally occurring from the fruit itself, but it's worth being prepared with that explanation.

Sustainability and Ethics: Beyond the Product

For parents who factor environmental impact into purchasing decisions, here's how the brands compare:

Zombie Snacks leads with B Corp certification, carbon neutral operations, and recyclable packaging. They're also a "Buy Women Built" company, which may matter to some consumers.

Bear has made sustainability commitments but isn't B Corp certified. Their packaging is partially recyclable, though the fruit roll wrappers themselves can be tricky.

Fruit Bowl provides limited public information about sustainability initiatives. Their packaging is recyclable, but I couldn't find carbon neutral claims or ethical certifications.

If ethics drive your purchasing decisions, Zombie has the clearest credentials. And before anyone accuses me of being preachy—my kitchen bin suggests I'm hardly a sustainability champion. But when the product quality is comparable, certifications can be a reasonable tiebreaker.

The Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

After all this testing, measuring, and one memorable incident where I dropped an entire multipack in Waitrose and had to buy it anyway, here's my honest ranking:

Best Overall: Zombie Snacks

The combination of superior taste, genuine allergen-free status, larger portions, and B Corp credentials makes Zombie my top pick. The branding appeals to older kids who've outgrown cutesy characters, and the flavours genuinely taste like fruit rather than fruit-adjacent candy.

The main drawback is limited availability—currently Tesco, Amazon, and a few independents. If you shop primarily at Sainsbury's or Asda, you'll need to make a specific trip.

Best for Young Children: Bear Yoyos

If you've got under-8s, Bear remains excellent. The collectible cards add engagement, the portion sizes suit smaller appetites, and the brand recognition means teachers won't question what's in the lunchbox. The drier texture also means less mess—a genuine consideration when you're cleaning out lunchboxes at 9pm.

Best Value: Fruit Bowl

For families on a budget, Fruit Bowl delivers acceptable quality at the lowest price point. The Peelers are genuinely good; I'd just avoid the Fruit Flakes. The wider supermarket availability means you can grab them with your regular shop rather than making special trips.

Best for Allergen Concerns: Zombie Snacks

If allergies are a factor—whether your own child's or their classroom's policies—Zombie is the only brand I'd recommend without hesitation. No nuts, no dairy, no soy, no egg, no sesame, no gluten. Completely clean.

Where to Buy: UK Stockists

Finding these brands varies significantly:

Zombie Snacks

• Tesco (multipack and variety packs)
• Amazon UK
• Independent health food shops

Bear Yoyos

• Most major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose
• Amazon UK
• Holland & Barrett

Fruit Bowl

• Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Co-op, Asda, Waitrose
• Ocado
• Amazon UK

For the most competitive pricing, check Grocefully's price comparison to see current offers across retailers.

Final Thoughts

The fruit snacks market has improved dramatically since I was a child, when "fruit snack" essentially meant sugar-coated raisins. All three brands reviewed here deliver genuinely fruit-based products without the added sugars that plague most children's snacks.

But they're not identical. Zombie offers the best combination of taste and ethics at a reasonable premium. Bear provides reliability and kid-appeal with the widest recognition. Fruit Bowl delivers value when budget is the priority.

My recommendation? Try all three and let your children decide. Just maybe don't do what I did and open them all simultaneously in your kitchen. The fruit leather comparison started innocently enough, but explaining to my partner why the counter looked like a sticky rainbow required more diplomacy than I possessed at 8am on a Saturday.

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Prices checked January 2026. Individual supermarket pricing may vary. This comparison was conducted independently—Grocefully did not receive payment or free products from any brand mentioned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dried fruit snacks actually healthy for kids?

Research from UMass Amherst found that dried fruit ranks as the healthiest type of fruit snack, outperforming gummies and fruit-flavoured candies. The key difference is that products like Zombie Snacks, Bear Yoyos, and Fruit Bowl contain only naturally occurring sugars from whole fruit, with no added sugars, preservatives, or artificial colours. They also count as one of your five a day and provide fibre. However, because the sugar is concentrated and can stick to teeth, they're best eaten with meals rather than as between-meal snacks.

Are Bear Yoyos healthier than Fruit Bowl?

Both brands offer no-added-sugar fruit snacks, but there are differences. Bear uses whole fruit baked at low temperatures to preserve fibre and vitamins, while Fruit Bowl primarily uses fruit purées. Bear Yoyos are completely allergen-free, whereas some Fruit Bowl products (like Yoghurt Coated Raisins) contain dairy. Nutritionally, Bear's whole-fruit approach may retain slightly more fibre, but both are significantly healthier than conventional fruit-flavoured sweets.

Where can I buy Zombie Snacks fruit bars in the UK?

Zombie Snacks are currently available at Tesco (through their Accelerator Programme), Amazon UK, and selected independent health food retailers. The brand launched in late 2024 and is expanding distribution throughout 2026. A variety multipack (4 x 25g bars in four flavours) retails at £2.60. For the best prices, compare retailers on Grocefully before purchasing.

What makes fruit snacks school-friendly?

School-friendly fruit snacks must meet several criteria: no added sugar, no artificial colours or flavours, counting towards five a day, and—increasingly—being allergen-free. Zombie Snacks leads here with complete allergen-free status (no nuts, dairy, soy, sesame, eggs, or gluten), plus Halal and Kosher certification. Bear Yoyos and most Fruit Bowl products also qualify, though some Fruit Bowl items contain dairy.

How much sugar is in no-added-sugar fruit bars?

No-added-sugar fruit bars typically contain 10-15g of sugar per 20-25g bar—but this is entirely naturally occurring sugar from the fruit itself, not added refined sugars. For context, an apple contains about 10g of natural sugar. The important distinction is that these fruit snacks don't contain the added sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners found in conventional fruit-flavoured sweets. The natural sugars come packaged with fibre, which helps slow absorption.

Are Zombie Snacks vegan?

Yes, all Zombie Snacks products are certified vegan, as well as vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, and completely allergen-free. The bars contain only fruit ingredients—no animal products, dairy, eggs, or animal-derived additives. The brand is also B Corp certified and carbon neutral. Similarly, Bear Yoyos are vegan and Fruit Bowl's fruit-only products (Peelers, School Bars, Fruit Flakes) are vegan-friendly, though their Yoghurt Coated range contains dairy.

Which fruit snack brand offers the best value?

On a price-per-bar basis, Fruit Bowl offers the best value at around 45-46p per bar compared to Zombie's 65p and Bear's 55p. However, portion sizes vary: Zombie bars are 25g versus 18-20g for competitors. Per 100g, prices are closer: Fruit Bowl at £2.25-£2.55, Zombie at £2.60, and Bear at £2.75. For families prioritising budget, Fruit Bowl delivers acceptable quality at the lowest cost. For those valuing larger portions and ethical credentials, Zombie's premium may be worthwhile.