Why is Pains au chocolat classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is labeled NOVA 4 because the recipe includes refined wheat flour, palm fat, chocolate made with added sugar and emulsifiers, plus several processing aids such as soy lecithin (E322), mono‑ and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471), a carotenoid colour (E160), and an antioxidant (vitamin C). These ingredients are typical of highly industrially processed foods.

How does the sugar and salt content in this chocolate croissant affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 13 g of sugars per 100 g, the pastry can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control. The 1 g of salt is below the average for sweet pastries but still contributes to daily sodium intake, so it should be limited for people monitoring hypertension.

Based on the ingredient list, is this product suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

No, it is not vegan because it contains butter, milk powder, and egg; it is not gluten‑free due to wheat and rye flour; it is not keto‑friendly because it provides 46 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; and it may not be halal because it includes alcohol‑based natural flavourings and palm oil, which can be problematic for some halal certifications.

Auchan • 0.36 kg

Pains au chocolat

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

The product is a chocolate croissant (pain au chocolat) sold by Auchan in a 360 g individual bag. Nutritionally it is high in fat (24 g), saturated fat (13 g), and provides 434 kcal per 100 g, while offering 2.3 g of fiber and 13 g of sugars; salt sits at 1 g. Classified within the sugary snacks and pastries groups, it carries a Nutri‑Score of E and a NOVA 4 rating, reflecting its ultra‑processed nature and the presence of additives such as palm oil, emulsifiers, and colorants.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal434 kcal

Fat24 g

Saturated Fat13 g

Carbohydrates46 g

Sugars13 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical sweet pastries, this chocolate croissant contains more fat (24 g vs 17.3 g) and saturated fat (13 g vs 8.8 g) while delivering slightly less sugar (13 g vs 16.6 g) and salt (1 g vs 1.9 g), resulting in higher energy at 434 kcal per 100 g.

Ingredients

Farine de blé 46.5% (blé origine France), graisse de palme, chocolat 13% (sucre, pâte de cacao¹, beurre de cacao¹, émulsifiant : lécithines (soja), arôme naturel de vanille), eau, sucre, beurre concentré (lait), arômes naturels (contient alcool), levure, sel, poudre de lait écrémé, gluten de blé, fibre de pomme de terre, émulsifiant : mono - et diglycérides d'acides gras, farine de seigle, colorant : caroténoïdes, antioxydant : acide ascorbique, œufs. ¹Certifié Rainforest Alliance. En savoir plus sur ww.ra.orgTraces éventuelles de fruits à coque si le numéro de lot contient les lettres \"CA\".

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