People in a hurry who want a few squares
A chocolate bar lets you break off a few pieces to enjoy alongside a breakfast you’ve already planned, without mistaking the chocolate for the whole meal.
Who are these formats for ?
People hosting an informal brunch
A bar to break into pieces and a bag of individual bites are served differently. The net weight helps you work out how much to put out.
People who pay close attention to ingredients
The nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients list let you compare specific products. Allergen information is especially important when serving several people.
How do the formats compare ?
For a quick breakfast, start with how you plan to serve the chocolate: a few squares to break off, a bar to share or individual pieces to hand out. Then check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and nutritional information | Compare the “of which sugars” and fat figures per 100 g across comparable products. Check the Nutri-Score if one is shown. | I want to know what’s in a product before choosing between two recipes. Around 36% of consumers put this nutritional comparison at the heart of their decision. |
| Quick serving and portion size | Check whether the bar can be broken into squares, and decide how much to serve before the meal. | In the morning, I’d rather take a few pieces than open an assortment to share; around 29% of consumers prioritise this ease of serving above all else. |
| Sharing format | Distinguish between a single bar, a multipack of bars and a bag of individual pieces; check the net weight. | When I’m hosting several people, I need to know whether everyone will break off a piece of a bar or take an individual bite. This way of sharing comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and check the allergen and “may contain” information on the exact product. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, the recipe matters more than the format. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this check. |
The cocoa percentage alone isn’t enough to work out the sugar content of a chocolate bar. In the product information provided by Lindt France, Excellence Noir 85% contains 15 g of sugars per 100 g, compared with 44 g for Lindor Lait fourré. These figures apply to these two recipes, not to all dark or milk chocolate.
Which common misunderstandings should you avoid ?
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Assuming the soft drinks tax applies to chocolate bars
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the so-called “soft drinks tax” applies to sugary drinks, not chocolate bars.
To compare two chocolate bars, check their nutritional information instead, particularly the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g.
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Thinking Nutri-Score is compulsory
The French Ministry of the Economy explains that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. Its absence isn’t enough to judge a product, and the logo doesn’t provide information about every ingredient or allergen.
If it appears on the packaging, use it alongside the nutritional information and ingredients list.
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Confusing a large pack with a sharing bag
A chocolate bar, even when sold in a multipack, needs to be broken into pieces; a bag contains individual pieces you can take separately. This affects how you serve it.
First decide whether you want squares to break off or individual pieces to hand out, then check the net weight of the format you choose.
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Relying on the recipe name alone
A filled bar or one with inclusions may contain different ingredients and allergen information from another product in the same brand’s range.
Before serving it to several people, check the label on the exact product, including any “may contain” information.
Which brands are worth comparing ?
These ranges provide useful points of comparison for recipes and formats; each observation applies to the specific product chosen.
Lindt
The range includes milk chocolate bars, filled bars, bars with inclusions and varieties with a high cocoa content.
- Lindt France lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g for Excellence Noir 85% and 44 g per 100 g for Lindor Lait fourré.
- These figures don’t represent the whole range; also check the ingredients and allergens for the bar you choose.
Nestlé / KitKat
Nestlé France describes some KitKat bars as combining chocolate, a smooth centre and a crisp wafer.
- This description helps you identify a recipe with several textures rather than a plain chocolate bar.
- You’ll still need to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the flavour you choose.
Carrefour
Carrefour France lists Carrefour Classic’ dark chocolate in a pack of three 100 g bars.
- This pack makes it easy to distinguish several separate bars from a single bag of bites.
- The format alone doesn’t tell you about the recipe or allergens; check the details for the exact product.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc lists, among other products, TABLETTE D’OR milk chocolate in a pack of 3 × 100 g bars.
- This packaging may suit you if you want to open the bars at different times.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information for the recipe you choose, especially for varieties with inclusions.
Chocolate bars and sharing formats on Joybuy
This selection includes bars you can break into pieces, as well as a bag of bites and mini bars for sharing. These are for a different occasion: they’re not large chocolate bars.
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Lindt Excellence Noir 85%, 100 g
A bar to consider if you’d like to break off a few squares and enjoy dark chocolate with 85% cocoa. Lindt France lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g for this product; check the packaging for the other nutritional values and allergen information.
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Côte d’Or milk chocolate with raisins and hazelnuts, 180 g
This 180 g bar can be broken up for sharing on occasion. Raisins and hazelnuts are part of the variety shown; read the full ingredients list and allergen information before serving it.
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Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy milk chocolate, 100 g
The bar format lets you break off a few pieces to enjoy alongside a breakfast you’ve already prepared. This is a 100 g milk chocolate recipe; compare its nutritional information and ingredients with those of the other options you’re considering.
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Maltesers, bag of milk chocolate bites
These bites with a malt centre can be served without breaking a bar, making them a handy choice for sharing. Check the net weight on the packaging before deciding how much to put out, and check the ingredients if you need to take dietary restrictions into account.
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Nestlé KitKat Strawberry Short Cake, 9 mini bars
The nine individual pieces listed make them a good choice for handing out separately rather than sharing a bar. The product name gives a total weight of 104,4 g; check the packaging for detailed nutritional information and allergens for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate bars subject to the soft drinks tax in France ?
No. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the so-called “soft drinks tax” applies to sugary drinks, not chocolate bars. To find out how much sugar a bar contains, check its nutritional information.
Does a chocolate bar have to display Nutri-Score ?
No. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. However, the DGCCRF states that prepacked foods must include nutritional information, subject to applicable exceptions. Compare the figures provided per 100 g.
How can you compare two chocolate bars if only one displays Nutri-Score ?
Compare their nutritional information on the same per-100 g basis, then check their ingredients and allergens. The absence of Nutri-Score alone doesn’t tell you anything conclusive about the other bar’s recipe.
Does dark chocolate with 85% cocoa always contain less sugar than milk chocolate ?
No. The cocoa percentage is no substitute for checking the figures for the specific product. Lindt France lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g for Excellence Noir 85% and 44 g per 100 g for Lindor Lait fourré; these two products don’t represent every dark and milk chocolate recipe.
What should you check before sharing chocolate with someone who has an allergy ?
Read the ingredients, declared allergens and any “may contain” information on the packaging of the exact product. Don’t assume it’s suitable based only on the brand name, type of chocolate or a recipe you looked at earlier.