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Cadbury

Cadbury Hot Chocolate

Name: Cadbury Hot Chocolate
Brand: Cadbury

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4high sugarfairtrade certifiedvegetarianhigh fibreultra-processedlactose-freepregnancy-safenut-freegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

18 g

Pack

250 g

Ingredients

Barcode

5000031200067 0

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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 · 1 ingredient shown

Caution1 of 4 ingredients

SugarCaution

Cleared 3▾

Cocoa powderCleared

Acidity regulator (potassium carbonates)Cleared

FlavouringCleared

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.

3/5

claims fully supported

“The Original Est. 1824”unverified

No historical founding data is available in any of the four input sources to confirm or deny the 1824 date.

“Swirl into milk”true

Preparation instructions in EXTRA INFORMATION confirm the product is mixed into 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk per 18 g serving.

“Suitable for vegetarians”true

EXTRA INFORMATION confirms vegetarianStatus: 'veg' and certifications include a 'Suitable for Vegetarians' logo; ingredients contain no meat, fish, or gelatine.

“100% Cocoa (visible on side panel)”misleading

The cocoa powder used appears to be pure/unadulterated cocoa with ≥25% minimum cocoa solids declared, consistent with a '100% cocoa' quality descriptor for that ingredient. However, sugar is the dominant ingredient at ~73 g/100 g, so any consumer interpretation of this claim as meaning the product is predominantly or wholly cocoa is materially false; the claim is technically a descriptor of the cocoa component but is presented in a way that implies broader product purity.

“Fairtrade — Sugar, Cocoa traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 99%”true

EXTRA INFORMATION and certifications explicitly confirm: 'Sugar, Cocoa: traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 99%.'

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

Fairtrade certified — sugar and cocoa sourced in compliance with Fairtrade Standards
Certified suitable for vegetarians
Genuine cocoa powder with ≥25% cocoa solids and natural flavanols
Relatively high dietary fibre at 9.3 g per 100 g powder
Very low sodium (20 mg per 100 g powder)

Working against

Extremely high sugar — 73 g per 100 g (sugar is the first ingredient)
Single serving delivers 23 g sugar, 26% of adult daily reference intake
Ultra-processed product containing unspecified 'flavouring' and E501i
No FSSAI licence number present despite being sold in India
Cocoa contributes caffeine and theobromine — unsuitable for infants

Who should approach with care

Diabetes — Sugar is the primary ingredient (73 g/100 g); sucrose 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.

Infants — Cocoa powder contains caffeine and theobromine (methylxanthines) that infants cannot metabolise; cocoa-containing products are not recommended for young infants.

Children — High free-sugar content promotes dental caries and excess energy intake in children; cocoa contributes cadmium, caffeine, and theobromine that warrant caution in young populations, and unspecified flavourings have been associated with behavioural concerns in some paediatric studies.

Pregnancy — Cocoa powder provides caffeine and theobromine that can cross the placenta; WHO recommends limiting total caffeine during pregnancy, and unspecified flavourings require cautious use due to potential developmental implications.

Lactation — Caffeine and theobromine from cocoa powder are secreted into breast milk and may cause irritability or sleep disturbance in nursing infants; transfer of certain flavouring substances to breast milk cannot be excluded.

Heart Disease — Cocoa's caffeine and theobromine can raise heart rate and blood pressure, and potassium carbonate (E501i) adds potassium load that may interact with potassium-sparing diuretics or restricted-potassium cardiac diets.

Hypertension — Excess free-sugar intake — of which this product is extremely high — is linked to raised blood pressure through cardiometabolic pathways cited by WHO.

Kidney Disease — High sucrose contributes to obesity and metabolic risk accelerating CKD progression; cocoa powder's oxalate content promotes kidney stone formation; and potassium carbonate (E501i) raises potassium load that impaired kidneys cannot safely excrete, risking hyperkalaemia.

Ibs — High sucrose can cause fermentation and bloating in individuals with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency or IBS, and caffeine/theobromine from cocoa stimulate gastrointestinal motility, worsening diarrhoea or cramping.

Migraine — Cocoa powder contains phenylethylamine and caffeine, both recognised dietary migraine triggers in susceptible individuals.

The full analysis

This product is a classic pantry staple picked up by hot-chocolate lovers and parents making a warm treat for children, but the nutrition profile gives pause: sugar is the first and overwhelmingly dominant ingredient at 73 g per 100 g of powder, delivering roughly 23 g of sugar in a single 18 g serving — 26% of an adult's daily reference intake before any flavoured milk is added. The cocoa component (≥25% solids) does bring real dietary fibre and natural flavanols, and the Fairtrade certification is a genuine positive, but the ultra-processed nature of the product (unspecified flavouring, E501i acidity regulator) and sky-high free-sugar load make this an occasional-treat rather than everyday item, especially for children and people managing blood glucose.

Manufacturer

Mondelez UK Confectionery Production Limited

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched