Why is Lebkuchen Herzen, Sterne, Brezeln – Zartbitter classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and which additives does it contain?

The product is classified as ultra‑processed because it includes refined ingredients such as glucose‑fructose syrup, caramelised sugar syrup, and a chocolate coating that uses an emulsifier (lecithin) derived from soy, as well as several mineral salts (diphosphate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate) that are typical of industrial food formulations.

How does the high sugar content of this gingerbread affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 34 g of sugar per 100 g, the gingerbread can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, making it unsuitable for strict diabetic control; the low salt (0.25 g) is beneficial for hypertension, but the overall high sugar outweighs that advantage, so consumption should be limited for both conditions.

Is this product suitable for vegan and gluten‑free diets?

All listed ingredients are plant‑based, so the product is fully vegan, but it contains wheat flour, which provides gluten, meaning it is not suitable for a gluten‑free diet.

Netto MD,Santa Claus in Town • 500 g

Lebkuchen Herzen, Sterne, Brezeln - Zartbitter

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Lebkuchen Herzen, Sterne, Brezeln – Zartbitter are gingerbread hearts, stars and pretzels coated with dark chocolate and belong to the sugary snacks and biscuits & cakes families, marketed as vegan and vegetarian. The product carries a Nutri‑Score of D, falls into NOVA group 4, and per 100 g provides 34 g of sugar, 6.7 g of saturated fat, 4.5 g of fiber, only 0.25 g of salt and 395 kcal of energy. While it offers a plant‑based sweet option, its high sugar content and ultra‑processed classification reduce its overall nutritional suitability.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal395 kcal

Fat11.2 g

Saturated Fat6.7 g

Carbohydrates65.2 g

Sugars34 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sweet snack, this gingerbread contains more sugar (34 g vs 28.98 g per 100 g) but less fat (11.2 g vs 17.65 g) and markedly lower salt (0.25 g vs 1.98 g).

Ingredients

Weizenmehl, Glukose-Fruktose-Sirup, Zartbitterschokolade (Zucker, Kakaomasse¹, Kakaobutter, Emulgator: Lecithine [enthält Soja]), Zucker, Karamellzuckersirup, Gewürze (enthält Zimt), Backtriebmittel: Kaliumcarbonate, Diphosphate, Natriumcarbonate; Sonnenblumenöl, Speisesalz. Das Produkt kann Spuren von Schalenfrüchten, Erdnüssen, Hühnerei, Milch, Lupinen und Sesam enthalten.

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