⌕ Zoom

Photo from the brand's official website

Cadbury

Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Fruit & Nut

Name: Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Fruit & Nut
Brand: Cadbury

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh sugarhigh saturated fatcocoa life certifiedcontains emulsifiersartificial flavouringlactose-freepregnancy-safegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

20 g

Pack

129 g

Ingredients

Barcode

7622202842429

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 9 ingredients

SugarCaution

Cashew NutsCaution

Emulsifiers (442, 476)Caution

Cleared 6▾

Milk SolidsCleared

Cocoa ButterCleared

Cocoa SolidsCleared

Dried Fruit (Raisins)Cleared

Apricot KernelsCleared

Flavours (Natural, Nature Identical and Artificial (Vanilla) Flavouring Substances)Cleared

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.

2/2

claims fully supported

“Cocoa Life helps farmers get the most from their cocoa trees through environmentally friendly farming”true

Cocoa Life is listed as a verified certification in EXTRA INFORMATION (certifications field: 'Cocoa Life Certification — www.cocoalife.org'), and the programme's existence and stated environmental mission are consistent with publicly available Mondelēz programme documentation referenced on-pack.

“Supports Sustainably Sourced Cocoa”true

The Cocoa Life certification is explicitly declared in the certifications array in EXTRA INFORMATION, and the on-pack cocoaLife message confirms participation in the programme, which is specifically designed to promote sustainably sourced cocoa.

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

Contains real fruit: raisins at 9% of product weight
Contains cashew nuts (5%) supplying healthy monounsaturated fats and plant protein
21% milk solids contribute protein and natural calcium
Cocoa Life certification supports environmentally friendly cocoa farming
FSSAI licensed; manufactured and marketed in India under declared licence numbers
Vegetarian certified (green dot)

Working against

Extremely high total sugar: 53.3 g per 100 g (38.1 g added sugar)
Very high saturated fat: 17.5 g per 100 g
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): industrial emulsifiers E442 and E476 present
Contains artificial vanilla flavouring substances
Traces of trans fat: 0.1 g per 100 g
High calorie density: 528 kcal per 100 g

Who should approach with care

Diabetes — The product leads with sucrose as its first ingredient (38.1 g added sugar per 100 g) alongside raisins and cocoa butter, combining rapidly absorbed free sugars with a calorie-dense fat matrix that poses significant postprandial glucose risk for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Children — High free-sugar content (53.3 g/100 g) is strongly linked to dental caries in developing dentition; cocoa solids contribute cadmium and theobromine; emulsifier E442 has been flagged by EFSA for potential marginal ADI exceedance in toddlers at high exposure; and cashew nuts and apricot kernels are declared allergens requiring age-appropriate introduction.

Infants — Cocoa solids are entirely unsuitable for infants due to theobromine, caffeine, and cadmium content; raw apricot kernels carry cyanide risk from amygdalin; cashew introduction requires paediatric guidance; and flavouring substances including vanillin are generally discouraged in infant nutrition under FSSAI Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations 2020.

Pregnancy — Cocoa solids contribute caffeine and theobromine, which cross the placenta and are associated with fetal growth restriction at high intakes; PGPR (E476) carries residual reproductive-toxicity uncertainty flagged by EFSA due to insufficient study data, warranting moderation during pregnancy.

Heart Disease — 17.5 g saturated fat per 100 g (from cocoa butter and milk solids) can raise LDL cholesterol; high free-sugar intake is independently associated with elevated triglycerides and cardiometabolic risk; and theobromine in cocoa solids may affect heart rate in individuals with pre-existing cardiac arrhythmias — together warranting significant caution for those with heart disease.

Hypertension — High saturated fat and excess free-sugar intake are both associated with elevated blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction; cocoa solids may also affect blood pressure in hypertensive individuals via theobromine and caffeine content.

Lactose Intolerance — Milk solids (21%) contain lactose; individuals with lactose intolerance may experience bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps from consumption.

Kidney Disease — Milk solids (phosphorus, potassium), cashew nuts (oxalates), and dried apricots (very high potassium) all impose additional mineral burdens that may exacerbate chronic kidney disease or contribute to nephrolithiasis and hyperkalaemia in individuals with impaired renal function.

Ibs — Raisins and dried apricot are high in FODMAPs (fructose, sorbitol, fermentable fibre); cocoa solids contain theobromine and caffeine that stimulate intestinal motility; and high sucrose intake can exacerbate fermentation-related symptoms in individuals with IBS.

Nut Allergy — Cashew nuts are a declared major tree-nut allergen; the label additionally warns 'May Contain Other Tree Nuts', making this product entirely inappropriate for individuals with tree-nut hypersensitivity.

Sulfite Sensitivity — Sulphites are explicitly declared as a 'Contains' allergen on the label, likely arising from the raisins and/or dried apricot ingredients, and can trigger bronchospasm, urticaria, or anaphylaxis in sulfite-sensitive individuals and asthmatics.

Gluten Intolerance — The label declares 'May Contain Wheat, Barley and Soy' due to shared manufacturing lines, posing a cross-contamination risk for individuals with coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

Migraine — Cocoa solids contain phenylethylamine, theobromine, and caffeine — widely cited dietary migraine triggers — and vanillin (both nature-identical and artificial) is an aromatic aldehyde recognised as a potential migraine trigger in susceptible individuals.

Ibd — High fat content (cocoa butter) may exacerbate fat malabsorption and gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with active IBD, and experimental evidence indicates emulsifiers such as E442 may adversely affect intestinal microbiota in this population.

Gout — Raisins carry a high fructose load which, when consumed in excess, may promote uric acid production and potentially trigger gout flares in predisposed individuals.

Phenylketonuria — Milk solids (21%) are a source of phenylalanine-rich proteins (casein and whey), and certain artificial vanilla flavour formulations may contain adjuncts requiring scrutiny; individuals with PKU should verify the full declaration with their physician.

The full analysis

This chocolate bar is popular with consumers seeking an indulgent treat with fruit-and-nut inclusions. While it contains real raisins (9%), cashew nuts (5%), and 21% milk solids, the product is dominated by sugar — 53.3 g total sugar per 100 g, of which 38.1 g is added sugar — and carries 17.5 g saturated fat and 528 kcal per 100 g. Two industrial emulsifiers (E442 and E476) and a blend of natural, nature-identical, and artificial vanilla flavourings push it firmly into the NOVA 4 ultra-processed category. The most useful single thing a curious consumer should know is that a single 20 g serving already delivers 15% of an adult's daily added-sugar RDA, and the soft Cocoa Life sustainability messaging does not offset the product's significant sugar and saturated-fat load.

FSSAI licence

10014022002711

Manufacturer

Mondelez India Foods Private Limited

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched