Why is Digestives Dark Chocolate classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is labelled NOVA 4 because the formulation combines refined flour, added sugars, vegetable fats, emulsifiers and flavorings that are industrially processed; the ingredient list includes additives E476 (polyglycerol esters of fatty acids), E322/E322i (soy lecithin), E500/E500ii (sodium bicarbonate), and E503/E503ii (ammonium bicarbonate), all of which are typical of ultra‑processed foods.

How does the sugar and salt content of Digestives Dark Chocolate affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 26.6 g of sugar per 100 g, the biscuit can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose, making it unsuitable for tight diabetic control, while its 0.83 g of salt is lower than the average snack but still contributes to daily sodium intake and should be limited for hypertension management.

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

No, it is not vegan because it contains butter oil (derived from milk), not gluten‑free because it includes wheat flour, and it is not keto‑friendly due to its high carbohydrate (61.1 g) and sugar content; halal status is unclear due to dairy and emulsifiers, so it is not recommended for strict adherence to any of these diets.

McVitie's • 433 g

Digestives Dark Chocolate

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

The product is a chocolate‑covered digestive biscuit classified as a sugary snack and belongs to the 'Sugary snacks' and 'Biscuits and cakes' groups. It carries a Nutri‑Score of E and is placed in NOVA group 4, reflecting its high levels of sugar (26.6 g), saturated fat (12.8 g) and the presence of several additives such as E476, E322 and E322i, as well as allergens like milk, wheat and soy. Nevertheless, it provides 4.3 g of dietary fiber and 6 g of protein per 100 g, offering some nutritional value amid its overall indulgent profile.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal495 kcal

Fat24.3 g

Saturated Fat12.8 g

Carbohydrates61.1 g

Sugars26.6 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack (28.98 g sugar, 17.65 g fat, 7.8 g saturated fat, 1.98 g salt per 100 g), this biscuit is slightly lower in sugar (26.6 g) and salt (0.83 g) but markedly higher in total fat (24.3 g) and saturated fat (12.8 g).

Ingredients

Flour (39%) (_Wheat_ Flour, Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Plain Chocolate (30%) [Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Vegetable Fats (Palm, Shea), Butter Oil (_Milk_), Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (_Soya_ Lecithin, E476), Natural Flavouring), Vegetable Oil (Palm), Wholemeal _Wheat_ Flour (9%), Sugar, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate, Malic Acid, Ammonium Bicarbonate), Salt.

84%

35%

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