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The Whole Truth

Sea Salt Dark Cocoa Bar

Name: Sea Salt Dark Cocoa Bar
Brand: The Whole Truth

Use in moderation On SafeShelf

NOVA 3no added sugarno artificial flavoursno preservativeshigh fiberthree ingredientsno emulsifierslactose-freepregnancy-safenut-freediabetic-safegluten-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

10 g

Pack

80 g

Ingredients

Barcode

8906143890527

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 · 1 ingredient shown

Caution1 of 3 ingredients

sea saltCaution

Cleared 2▾

cocoa (cocoa nibs 51%, cocoa butter 20%)Cleared

date powderCleared

Why it’s on SafeShelf

Reviewed and added to SafeShelf — every ingredient checked against our safety, regulatory and processing standards.

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.

11/15

claims fully supported

“No refined sugar”true

Added sugars confirmed 0.0g; the only sweetener is date powder, a whole-fruit ingredient that is not refined sugar.

“No sugar substitutes”true

No artificial or alternative sweeteners (stevia, sucralose, aspartame, etc.) appear in the ingredient list.

“No artificial flavours”true

The three-ingredient deck contains no artificial flavouring agents whatsoever.

“No essences”true

No natural or artificial essences are present in the formulation.

“No shortcuts”unverified

Subjective marketing language with no objective regulatory standard; cannot be confirmed or denied from available data.

“No hidden # marks either!”true

No E-numbers, INS codes, or additive codes appear anywhere in the three-ingredient formulation — consistent with this claim.

“71% Cocoa”true

Extra information confirms cocoa is 71.0% of the product, comprising cocoa nibs (51%) and cocoa butter (20%).

“28% Dates”true

Extra information lists date powder at 28.4%; rounding to 28% is a minor approximation but not misleading.

“1% Sea Salt”misleading

Extra information specifies sea salt at 0.6%, not 1%; the claim overstates the proportion by approximately 67%.

“Sweetened with Dates”true

Date powder at 28.4% is the sole source of sweetness; added sugars are 0.0g, consistent with this framing.

“Clean Label”true

Three recognizable whole-food ingredients, no E-numbers, no artificial additives — meets any reasonable definition of a clean label.

“#nothingtohide”true

All ingredients and their percentages are disclosed on pack; formulation is fully transparent.

“From bean. To bar. With love.”unverified

Brand narrative/process claim; no third-party audit or supply chain documentation available to verify bean-to-bar manufacturing.

“The whole Truth is this cocoa bar makes waves.”unverified

Promotional front-label copy with no verifiable factual assertion.

“0.0g added sugars”true

Nutrition data and the per-serving breakdown in extra information both confirm addedSugarsG: 0.0; date powder contributes only intrinsic fruit sugars.

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

Only 3 whole-food ingredients — fully transparent label
Zero added sugars; sweetened exclusively with dates
No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives
No emulsifiers or synthetic additives
High dietary fibre — 8.2g per 100g
Zero trans fat; no refined sugar

Working against

Very high saturated fat — 29.5g per 100g (nearly 50% of fat content)
High total fat — 44.4g per 100g; calorie-dense at 592 kcal
21.4g sugar per 100g, all from dates — still real sugar
Sodium 214mg per 100g; sea salt adds measurable sodium load
Cocoa contributes caffeine and theobromine — not suitable for infants

Who should approach with care

Infants — Cocoa contains caffeine and theobromine that infants cannot metabolise, and the concentrated natural sugar from date powder makes this bar entirely unsuitable for infants.

Pregnancy — Cocoa's caffeine and theobromine cross the placenta (WHO advises limiting caffeine during pregnancy), and excess sodium from sea salt may raise risk of gestational hypertension.

Lactation — Caffeine and theobromine from cocoa are secreted into breast milk and may cause irritability or sleep disturbances in nursing infants.

Children — Children are more sensitive to methylxanthines in cocoa, cadmium accumulation at high intake levels (JECFA 2022), and excess sodium from sea salt; portions should be limited.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium excretion capacity with age makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to blood pressure elevation from sodium in sea salt, as noted by the FDA.

Diabetes — Date powder contributes over 70% natural sugars (fructose and glucose); despite a lower glycaemic index, high intake can elevate blood glucose in individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Hypertension — Sodium from sea salt (214 mg per 100g) directly raises blood pressure; WHO and EFSA identify any excess sodium as harmful for hypertensive individuals.

Kidney Disease — Impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete sodium (sea salt), and cocoa's high oxalate content promotes calcium oxalate stones; date powder adds high potassium, risking hyperkalaemia.

Heart Disease — Sea salt raises blood pressure and cardiac workload, while cocoa's caffeine and theobromine can increase heart rate; individuals with established cardiovascular conditions should seek medical guidance before regular consumption.

Ibs — Date powder is high in fructose and fermentable fibre (high-FODMAP), and cocoa's methylxanthines stimulate gut motility, both of which can exacerbate bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits.

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

Gout — The high fructose content in date powder can elevate serum uric acid levels, potentially precipitating gout flares in predisposed individuals.

The full analysis

The Whole Truth Sea Salt Dark Cocoa Bar is marketed to health-conscious consumers seeking a 'clean' chocolate experience free from refined sugar and additives. With only three whole-food ingredients — cocoa, dates, and sea salt — it genuinely lives up to most of its label promises: no added sugars, no artificial flavours, no emulsifiers, and a commendably transparent ingredient deck. The most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that the 21.4g of sugar per 100g is entirely natural (from dates), but it is still real sugar that warrants portion awareness, especially for those managing blood glucose or watching caloric intake from a product that is 44% fat and nearly 592 kcal per 100g.

FSSAI licence

11523998000637

Manufacturer

Fitshit Health Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched