Why is Peanut Butter Cups classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product is labelled NOVA 4 because its core consists of a milk‑chocolate coating and a peanut‑butter filling that are made from refined sugars, cocoa butter, milk powders and emulsifiers, all of which are industrially processed; it also includes additives such as the antioxidant TBHQ (E319), soy lecithin (E322), citric acid (E330) and the stabiliser polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476).

How does the sugar and salt content in Peanut Butter Cups affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 51.8 g of sugar per 100 g, the cups can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making them unsuitable for people managing diabetes, and the 0.8 g of salt per 100 g adds extra sodium that may aggravate hypertension, so they should be limited in such diets.

Is the peanut ingredient in Peanut Butter Cups a concern for nut allergies?

Yes, the filling contains peanuts, a major allergen, so anyone with a peanut allergy should avoid the product; the label also flags milk and soy as allergens.

Reese's • 42 g

Peanut Butter Cups

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are a 42 g chocolate snack that falls under the Sugary snacks category. They carry a Nutri‑Score of E and are classified as NOVA group 4, reflecting an ultra‑processed product with high levels of sugars (51.8 g/100 g), saturated fat (10.7 g/100 g) and added salt, and they contain several additives such as E319, E322, E330 and E476. While they provide some protein and cocoa flavoured coating, the overall nutritional profile is poor and the product is best enjoyed only occasionally.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal522 kcal

Fat29.3 g

Saturated Fat10.7 g

Carbohydrates56.2 g

Sugars51.8 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack profile, Peanut Butter Cups contain more sugar (51.8 g vs 40.2 g) and salt (0.80 g vs 0.42 g) per 100 g, slightly less total fat (29.3 g vs 33.1 g) and much lower saturated fat (10.7 g vs 19.0 g), while delivering a similar energy level of about 522 kcal.

Ingredients

MILK CHOCOLATE FLAVOUR COATING (52%) [SUGAR*; COCOA BUTTER; COCOA MASS; SKIMMED MILK POWDER; MILK FAT; LACTOSE (MILK); EMULSIFIERS, SOYA LECITHIN (E322), POLYGLYCEROL POLYRICINOLEATE (E476)]; PEANUT BUTTER CREME CENTER (48%) [PEANUTS; SUGAR*; DEXTROSE; SALT; ACIDITY REGULATOR, CITRIC ACID (E330), ANTIOXIDANT, TBHQ (E319)].

84%

35%

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