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Amul

Amul Dark Chocolate

Name: Amul Dark Chocolate
Brand: Amul

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh added sugarhigh saturated fatartificial flavours55% cocoalactose-freegluten-freenut-freepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

—

Pack

150 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8901262070676

Buy on Amazon

01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 3 ingredients shown

Caution3 of 5 ingredients

SugarCaution

Permitted Emulsifiers (E322, E476)Caution

Contains Added Flavours (Artificial Flavouring Substances - Cocoa & Vanilla)Caution

Cleared 2▾

Cocoa SolidsCleared

Cocoa ButterCleared

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

1/3

claims fully supported

“Made from Finest Cocoa Beans”unverified

No sourcing certification, third-party audit, single-origin designation, or grading documentation is present in any of the four data sources to substantiate 'finest'. The product description states this qualitatively but provides no verifiable evidence.

“55% Rich in Cocoa”true

The rawLabelData extra field explicitly states cocoaPercentage: '55%', confirming the total cocoa content (cocoa solids + cocoa butter) is 55%.

“Natural Source of Antioxidants”misleading

Cocoa solids are a recognised natural source of flavanol antioxidants; EFSA (2012) established a cause-and-effect relationship between cocoa flavanol consumption and normal endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, the product simultaneously contains artificial cocoa and vanilla flavourings, creating a misleading 'natural' framing — the antioxidant source (cocoa solids) is real, but the product is not a natural food.

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

55% cocoa content delivers genuine cocoa flavanols linked to vascular benefits
Zero trans fat declared
FSSAI licensed product with dual licence numbers on pack
Vegetarian certified
No artificial colours detected in ingredient list

Working against

Extremely high added sugar — 43 g per 100 g
High saturated fat — 20.4 g per 100 g (102% of typical daily limit per 100 g)
Contains artificial flavourings (cocoa and vanilla) despite premium cocoa positioning
Ultra-processed — NOVA 4 due to industrial emulsifiers and synthetic flavourings
Contains soy lecithin (E322) — mandatory allergen declaration may be absent on pack
Cadmium accumulation risk inherent to high-cocoa-solids dark chocolate (EFSA-noted concern)

Who should approach with care

Diabetes — 43 g of added sucrose per 100 g causes sharp postprandial blood glucose spikes; cocoa butter further adds caloric density that complicates glycaemic management.

Infants — Cocoa solids contain theobromine and caffeine which are contraindicated for infants, and FSSAI/FDA do not permit cocoa solids in infant foods; the product is wholly inappropriate for this group.

Children — High added sugar promotes dental caries (WHO); high cocoa solids in dark chocolate can push children's dietary cadmium toward EFSA's PTWI of 2.5 µg/kg bw; artificial cocoa flavour components may provoke sensitivity reactions in some children.

Pregnancy — Cocoa solids contribute caffeine and theobromine which cross the placenta and are linked to fetal growth restriction at high intakes; PGPR (E476) has an unresolved reproductive toxicity dataset per EFSA's 2017 opinion.

Heart Disease — Saturated fat at 20.4 g/100 g (primarily palmitic acid from cocoa butter) can raise LDL cholesterol, and the high added sugar load elevates cardiometabolic risk through triglyceride elevation.

Hypertension — High saturated fat (cocoa butter) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk; excess sugar intake is independently linked to raised blood pressure in WHO-cited evidence.

Ibs — Caffeine and theobromine in cocoa solids stimulate intestinal motility, and high sucrose can trigger fermentation-related bloating, both of which may exacerbate IBS symptoms.

Migraine — Cocoa solids contain phenylethylamine, theobromine, and other bioactive amines widely cited as dietary migraine triggers.

Ibd — High cocoa butter fat content may worsen fat malabsorption in active IBD; emerging evidence also suggests some synthetic aroma chemicals in artificial flavourings may influence gut microbiota and intestinal permeability.

Kidney Disease — High added sugar consumption contributes to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes — all independent drivers of chronic kidney disease progression — warranting intake restriction.

Phenylketonuria — Artificial vanilla flavour formulations may contain carrier adjuncts that require scrutiny for PKU patients; the full chemical composition is not disclosed beyond the class name on the label.

The full analysis

This is a widely purchased dark chocolate bar positioned on cocoa richness and antioxidant credentials. While the 55% cocoa content does bring genuine flavanol benefits, the product is undercut by a very high added sugar load (43 g per 100 g), substantial saturated fat (20.4 g per 100 g), and the presence of two artificial flavouring substances alongside industrial emulsifiers — firmly placing it in the ultra-processed NOVA 4 category. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that despite the health halo of 'dark chocolate', more than two-fifths of this product by weight is added sugar, making portion discipline essential for anyone monitoring metabolic health.

FSSAI licence

10012021000071

Manufacturer

Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched