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Cadbury

Cadbury Bournville Classic 50% Dark Chocolate

Name: Cadbury Bournville Classic 50% Dark Chocolate
Brand: Cadbury

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4high sugarhigh saturated fatultra-processedlow sodiumvegetarian certifiedlactose-freepregnancy-safenut-freegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

75 g

Ingredients

Barcode

7622202325991

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 6 ingredients

SugarCaution

Emulsifiers (442, 476)Caution

Nature Identical Flavouring SubstancesCaution

Cleared 3▾

Cocoa ButterCleared

Cocoa SolidsCleared

Milk SolidsCleared

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

“50% Dark”true

Cocoa butter is declared at 29% and cocoa solids at 22%, totalling approximately 51% cocoa-derived content, consistent with the 50% claim. The label caveat notes ingredient percentages are approximate.

“Supports Sustainably Sourced Cocoa”unverified

Cocoa Life is listed in the product's certifications field and the label references www.cocoalife.org; however, no independent third-party audit certificate or verified sourcing data is available in any of the four data sources to confirm actual farmer-level outcomes.

“Cocoa Life — Helps farmers get the most from their cocoa trees through environmentally friendly farming”unverified

The Cocoa Life programme is a real Mondelez initiative, referenced on-pack and in certifications. Whether it materially delivers environmental or farmer-livelihood outcomes cannot be verified from the available product data; no third-party audit or impact report is provided.

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

50% cocoa content delivers genuine cocoa flavour and some flavanols
Very low sodium at 15.8 mg per 100g
No artificial colours detected in ingredient list
FSSAI licensed; vegetarian certified
Cocoa Life sustainability sourcing programme participation

Working against

Extremely high sugar: 45.1g per 100g (44.1g added sugar)
Very high saturated fat: 23g per 100g
Contains trans fat (0.1g per 100g)
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): two industrial emulsifiers present
Contains nature identical flavouring substances
Dark chocolate framing creates misleading health halo given sugar content

Who should approach with care

Diabetes — Sucrose (first ingredient, 45.1g/100g) is rapidly hydrolysed to glucose and fructose, causing sharp postprandial blood glucose spikes that are particularly hazardous for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Children — High free-sugar content risks dental caries and excess energy intake per WHO guidelines; cocoa solids contribute dietary cadmium exposure which can approach EFSA's provisional tolerable weekly intake in children eating dark chocolate regularly; E442 toddler exposure can marginally exceed EFSA's ADI at high intake.

Infants — Cocoa solids contain theobromine and caffeine which are not appropriate for infants, and FSSAI and FDA do not permit cocoa in infant foods; milk solids also introduce cow's milk protein allergen risk in this age group.

Pregnancy — Cocoa solids supply caffeine and theobromine which cross the placenta and are associated with fetal growth restriction at high intakes; PGPR (E476) has residual reproductive toxicity uncertainty per EFSA 2017.

Heart Disease — Very high saturated fat (23g/100g from cocoa butter and milk solids) and high sugar may raise LDL and triglycerides; theobromine and caffeine from cocoa solids may affect heart rate and blood pressure in those with pre-existing cardiac arrhythmias.

Hypertension — High saturated fat diet from cocoa butter is associated with endothelial dysfunction, and excess sugar intake is linked to raised blood pressure in cardiometabolic risk studies cited by WHO.

Lactose Intolerance — Milk solids contain lactose; individuals with lactose intolerance may experience bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps from this product.

Kidney Disease — Milk solids contribute phosphorus and potassium requiring dietary restriction in CKD; excess sugar also drives obesity and hypertension, independent risk factors for CKD progression.

Ibs — High sucrose may worsen symptoms in those with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency; caffeine and theobromine from cocoa solids stimulate intestinal motility and may exacerbate diarrhoea or cramping.

Ibd — Emulsifier E442 (ammonium phosphatides) may adversely affect intestinal microbiota and gut metabolome; high-fat cocoa butter content may exacerbate fat malabsorption in active inflammatory bowel disease.

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

Phenylketonuria — Milk solids supply phenylalanine-rich proteins (casein and whey) that individuals with phenylketonuria must carefully account for within their strictly controlled low-phenylalanine diet.

The full analysis

Bournville is India's most recognisable dark-chocolate bar, bought for its rich cocoa flavour and perceived 'healthier chocolate' positioning. Despite the 50% cocoa content, sugar is the first ingredient and added sugars account for 44.1g per 100g — delivering 18% of an adult's daily added-sugar RDA in a single 20g square. Saturated fat is very high at 23g/100g, and the product is ultra-processed (NOVA 4) due to two industrial emulsifiers — ammonium phosphatides (E442) and PGPR (E476) — plus nature-identical flavouring substances. The most useful thing a consumer should know is that the 'dark chocolate' framing suggests a health halo that the nutrition profile does not support: this is a high-sugar, high-saturated-fat confectionery with a meaningful cocoa fraction, best treated as an occasional indulgence rather than a healthy snack.

FSSAI licence

10014022002711

Manufacturer

Mondelez India Foods Private Limited

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched