Why is Hobnobs Dark Chocolate classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and which additives does it contain?

The biscuit contains refined sugar, palm oil, multiple vegetable fats, raising agents and emulsifiers that are typical of industrial formulations; its label lists additives such as E322 (lecithin), E322i, E476, E500, E500ii, E503 and E503ii, which together place it in the NOVA 4 ultra‑processed category.

How do the sugar and salt levels in this product affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 30.7 g of sugar per 100 g, the biscuit can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it unsuitable as a regular choice for diabetes management; the 0.65 g of salt is lower than the average snack but still contributes to daily sodium intake, so hypertensive individuals should limit consumption.

Is Hobnobs Dark Chocolate suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

No. The product contains milk (listed as an allergen in the shea butter oil), wheat flour and gluten, so it is neither vegan nor gluten‑free, and the presence of animal‑derived ingredients may conflict with halal requirements; its high carbohydrate content also makes it incompatible with a keto diet.

McVitie's • 262 g

Hobknobs The Oaty One Dark Chocolate

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Hobnobs Dark Chocolate is a sweet biscuit from McVitie's that falls within the Sugary snacks family of the Biscuits and Cakes group. It carries a Nutri‑Score of E and is classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4), featuring high levels of sugar (30.7 g), fat (23.8 g) and saturated fat (11.9 g) alongside a modest salt content (0.65 g) and a notable amount of dietary fiber (6.3 g). While it offers whole‑grain oats and fiber, its overall nutritional profile is outweighed by excessive sugars and saturated fats, limiting its health appeal.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal494 kcal

Fat23.8 g

Saturated Fat11.9 g

Carbohydrates60.2 g

Sugars30.7 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sweet‑snack benchmark, Hobnobs Dark Chocolate contains considerably more sugar (30.7 g vs 28.9 g), fat (23.8 g vs 17.6 g) and saturated fat (11.9 g vs 7.8 g), but its salt level is less than half the average (0.65 g vs 2.0 g) and it provides almost double the fiber (6.3 g vs 3.1 g) while delivering only about half the typical energy (206 kcal vs 418 kcal).

Ingredients

Wholegrain Rolled Oats (30%), Dark Chocolate (25%) [Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Vegetable Fats (Palm, Sheal Butter Oil (Milk), Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, E476), Natural Flavouring), Wholemeal Wheat Flour (16%), Sugar, Palm Oil, Glucose-Fructose Syru Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Bicarbonate), Salt.

84%

35%

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