Why is Chocolate biscuit classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It receives a NOVA 4 rating because the formulation includes refined sugars, cocoa powders, multiple vegetable oils, emulsifiers and flavorings that are industrially manufactured; the label lists additives such as soy lecithin (E322), carotenoid colour (E160), citric acid (E330), bicarbonate of soda (E500), diphosphate (E450) and other processing aids.

How does the high sugar and saturated-fat content of this biscuit affect people with diabetes or hypertension?

The 39.4 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid blood-glucose spikes, making the biscuit unsuitable for strict diabetic control, while the 15.9 g of saturated fat contributes to elevated LDL cholesterol; the modest 0.33 g salt is below the average for biscuits but still adds to total sodium intake, which may be a concern for hypertension.

Is the palm oil used in this biscuit a concern for environmental sustainability?

Palm oil accounts for about 14 % of the ingredient list and is flagged as a threatened-species risk in the Eco-Score, indicating that its sourcing can be linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss; consumers seeking eco-friendly options may prefer products without palm oil.

Marks & Spencer

Chocolate biscuit

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Chocolate biscuit is a sweet snack belonging to the sugary snacks and biscuits-and-cakes families. It carries a Nutri-Score of E and is classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting its ultra-processed nature with several additives such as soy lecithin (E322), carotenoid colour (E160), citric acid (E330), bicarbonate of soda (E500) and diphosphate (E450). The product is high in sugar (39.4 g), fat (27.2 g) and saturated fat (15.9 g) per 100 g, provides moderate protein (6.1 g) and fiber (3.3 g), and contains the allergens milk, soy, gluten and egg.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal521 kcal

Fat27.2 g

Saturated Fat15.9 g

Carbohydrates62 g

Sugars39.4 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sweet biscuit, this chocolate biscuit contains about 10 g more sugar, 10 g more total fat and double the saturated fat, while its salt level is lower than the typical 1.98 g per 100 g.

Ingredients

Chocolat au lait (34%) (Sucre · Beurre de cacao · Lait en poudre entier · Masse de cacao Lactosérum en poudre (Lait) · Lait en poudre écrémé · Émulsifiant : Lécithine de soja) · Chocolat noir (17%) (Sucre · Masse de cacao · Beurre de cacao · Butteroil (Lait) · Émulsifiant : Lécithine de soja · Arôme vanille) Farine de blé contient Gluten (avec Farine de blé, Carbonate de calcium, Fer, Niacine, Thiamine) Chocolat blanc (11%) (Sucre · Beurre de cacao · Lait en poudre écrémé · Butteroil (Lait) · Lait en poudre entier Émulsifiant : Lécithine de soja · Arôme vanille) · Sucre · Huile de palme · Graisse de palme · Beurre (Lait) · Huile de palmiste · Širop de sucre partiellement inverti · Sirop de glucose Cacao en poudre · Lait en poudre entier · Lait en poudre écrémé · Avoine grossièrement moulue · Sel · Gingembre Poudre à lever : E503, Bicarbonate de soude, E450 · Gingembre moulu · Dextrose · Émulsifiant : Lécithine de soja · Arômes · Œuf pasteurisé · Ecorce d'orange Écorce de citron · Colorant : Caroténoïdes · Correcteur d'acidité : Acide citrique, Chocolat au lait contient cacao 28% minimum, matière sèche de lait 16% minimum, Chocolat noir contient cacao 49% minimum, Chocolat blanc contient matière sèche de lait 23% minimum, Pour les allergènes, voir les ingrédients indiqués en gras, Ne convient pas aux personnes allergiques aux fruits à coque et aux arachides en raison des méthodes de fabrication, IMPORTANT Contenu fidèle à l'illustration sauf en cas de remplacement nécessaire, INFORMATION La photo n'est pas représentative de la taille, CONSERVATION

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35%

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