Why is Peanut butter cups classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product combines refined ingredients such as powdered milk, cocoa paste, and added sugars, and undergoes multiple processing steps, which places it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category; the only listed additive is soy lecithin (E322), used as an emulsifier.

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

With 35.6 g of sugar per 100 g, the product can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control, and its 0.44 g of salt per 100 g exceeds typical low‑sodium recommendations, potentially raising blood pressure for hypertensive individuals.

Is the peanut content in Peanut butter cups a concern for people with peanut allergies?

Yes; the product contains 36 % ground peanuts, which are a major allergen, so anyone with a peanut allergy should avoid it entirely.

McEnnedy • 130g

Peanut butter cups

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Peanut butter cups are sweet snack confectioneries made mainly from ground peanuts, sugar, cocoa butter and milk powder, placing them in the sugary snacks and chocolate products families. They carry a Nutri‑Score of E and belong to NOVA group 4, reflecting their ultra‑processed nature, high sugar (35.6 g/100 g), high total fat (39.8 g/100 g) and saturated fat (16.1 g/100 g) together with a modest amount of protein (13.6 g/100 g) and fiber (4.3 g/100 g). The formulation also includes soy lecithin (E322) as an emulsifier, peanuts as a major allergen, and traces of gluten, egg, tree nuts and sesame, which may limit its suitability for some consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal578 kcal

Fat39.8 g

Saturated Fat16.1 g

Carbohydrates39.1 g

Sugars35.6 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sweet snack, this product has slightly lower sugar (35.6 g vs 40.2 g), higher total fat (39.8 g vs 33.1 g) and lower saturated fat (16.1 g vs 19.0 g), while its salt level (0.44 g) is marginally above the category average (0.42 g).

Ingredients

36% cacahuètes moulues (arachides), sucre, beurre de cacao*, lait en poudre entier, pâte de cacao*, lécithines (soja); sel. *Certifié Rainforest Alliance. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur ra.org. Traces éventuelles de céréales contenant du gluten, d'œuf, de fruits à coque et de graines de sésame.

84%

35%

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