Why is Pistachios with milk chocolate classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product receives a NOVA 4 rating because its ingredients are largely industrially processed, including refined sugar, cocoa butter, milk powders, whey and multiple emulsifiers and flavorings. It lists four food‑grade additives: lecithins (E322), gum arabic (E414), polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476) and shellac (E904).

How does the sugar and saturated‑fat content in this product affect a diabetic or cardiovascular diet?

With 36.6 g of sugar per 100 g, the snack can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control. The 15 g of saturated fat raises LDL‑cholesterol levels, which is a risk factor for heart disease, although the low salt (0.11 g) is a positive aspect.

Is the milk ingredient in this product a concern for people with dairy allergy, and does the presence of pistachios affect those with tree‑nut allergies?

Yes, the milk chocolate coating contains whole milk powder, whey powder and milk solids, so anyone with a dairy allergy should avoid it. Pistachios are tree nuts, so the product also poses a risk for individuals allergic to tree nuts.

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Pistachios with milk chocolate

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Pistachios with milk chocolate are a sweet snack that combines a milk-chocolate coating with roasted pistachio nuts. The product belongs to the Sugary snacks and Sweets groups, carries a Nutri-Score of E and is classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting its ultra-processed nature and the presence of additives such as lecithins (E322), gum arabic (E414), polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476) and shellac (E904). Nutritionally it is high in fat (35.4 g), saturated fat (15 g) and energy (560 kcal) while offering a relatively high fiber (4.29 g) and protein (11.2 g) content, but it also contains 36.6 g of sugars and milk, which may be problematic for some consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal561 kcal

Fat35.4 g

Saturated Fat15 g

Carbohydrates47.1 g

Sugars36.6 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sweet-snack, this product contains far more fat (35.4 g vs 10.5 g), saturated fat (15 g vs 7 g) and protein (11.2 g vs 2.9 g) and higher energy (560 kcal vs 373 kcal), but it has lower sugar (36.6 g vs 53.4 g) and salt (0.11 g vs 0.36 g).

Ingredients

70% Milk Chocolate Coating (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass**, Whey Powder (Milk), Emulsifiers: Lecithins, Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate; Flavouring), 22% Pistachio Nuts, Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Glazing Agents: Gum Arabic, Shellac. Milk Chocolate contains: Cocoa Solids 28% Minimum, Milk Solids 16% Minimum. **Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org. Allergy Advice For allergens, see ingredients in bold. May also Contain other Nuts, Peanuts, Soya and Sulphites.

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