Who is this option for?

Parents preparing several snacks

A multipack of three 100 g bars lets you keep unopened bars in reserve. However, you’ll need to portion them out at home rather than treat each bar as a ready-to-give portion for a child.

Parents of a child with dietary requirements

First, check the nursery’s rules and the product’s ingredients. According to Service-Public.fr, an individual care plan (PAI) can set out the adjustments needed for a child with an allergy or intolerance in a group setting.

Shoppers who pay attention to ingredients and sugar

The ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition information help you assess your chosen bar. Santé publique France explains that displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary, so its absence is no reason to skip reading the label.

What should you check before buying?

What to consider What to check Who this matters to
Allergens and nursery rules Check with the nursery what it allows children to bring in and share. Read the allergen information and any may-contain statements on the exact product packaging. If a PAI applies, follow its instructions. If my child has an allergy or the nursery has rules about food brought in, I need to know whether this bar is suitable before preparing a snack. Around 42% of shoppers put this check first.
Ingredients and sugar Compare the sugars per 100 g in bars of the same type and read the ingredients list. Check the Nutri-Score if it appears on the packaging, but don’t use it instead of the nutrition information. If I’m sharing a bar between several snacks, I want to check its ingredients and sugar before deciding on the portions. Around 33% of shoppers make this their priority.
Keeping some in reserve and sharing Check how many bars are in the pack and how much each one weighs. Plan how to keep the packaging with the ingredients information after portioning out the bars. When I’m preparing several snacks, I’m mainly looking for unopened bars I can keep in reserve, while bearing in mind that I’ll need to divide them into portions. Around 25% of shoppers prioritise this format.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a multipack contains individual portions

    Carrefour’s multipacks of three 100 g bars contain whole bars. Once a bar has been opened and divided up, the individual pieces no longer have the ingredients list or allergen information with them.

    Prepare the portions at home, keep the packaging to hand and check the nursery’s rules on sharing food.

  • Assuming the Nutri-Score is compulsory or all you need to make a choice

    According to Santé publique France, displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary. It supplements the label, but doesn’t replace the ingredients list, allergen information or nutrition information.

    If it’s shown, use it to compare similar products, and also check the sugars per 100 g.

  • Judging allergens by how the bar looks

    Not seeing any pieces of tree nuts doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or may-contain statements. Lindt, for example, says that none of its products are guaranteed to be free from tree nut allergens.

    Check the packaging of the exact product you buy. If a child has a PAI, follow the arrangements agreed with the nursery.

Brands to know for these formats

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour offers a Classic' milk chocolate multipack containing three 100 g bars.

  • You can keep the three separate bars unopened until you’re ready to use them.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product before preparing a snack to share.

Côte d'Or

Carrefour offers L’Original in a multipack of three 100 g bars; Joybuy also stocks a 200 g Côte d’Or sharing bar.

  • These two pack sizes let you choose between several unopened bars and one large bar to portion out.
  • The 200 g sharing bar is not the same product as the multipack of three 100 g bars.

Lindt

Carrefour offers Lindt L’Authentique Lait in a multipack of three 100 g bars.

  • This pack lets you keep bars unopened for snacks prepared at different times.
  • Lindt says that none of its products are guaranteed to be free from tree nut allergens, so you shouldn’t choose this multipack for an allergic child based on the brand’s reputation alone.

Nestlé

Nestlé describes GALAK as a white chocolate bar. This type of bar shouldn’t be confused with the milk chocolate multipacks discussed here.

  • You can assess its ingredients separately if white chocolate is one of the formats you’re considering.
  • Check the pack size, ingredients and nursery rules for the exact product you want to bring in.

A multipack option on Joybuy

This milk chocolate multipack is suitable for preparing several snacks at home. You’ll still need to portion out each bar according to what the nursery allows.

Multipack of three 100 g Milka Alpine Milk bars

Milka Alpine Milk, pack of 3 x 100 g bars

For preparing several snacks at home, this pack contains three 100 g bars to portion out. Before taking any to the nursery, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, then confirm with the nursery what it allows children to bring in or share.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does the soda tax apply to chocolate bars?

No. In France, the so-called “soda tax” applies to sugary drinks, as the Ministry of the Economy explains; it doesn’t apply to chocolate bars. To compare chocolate bars, check the sugars listed in their nutrition information.

Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on a chocolate bar?

No. Santé publique France explains that producers can choose whether to display the Nutri-Score. If it appears on a bar, it supplements the nutrition information; also read the ingredients and allergen information.

What should you check before taking a bar to the nursery?

First, ask the nursery whether it allows children to bring in and share food. Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any may-contain statements on the packaging of your chosen bar. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens present in the ingredients must be highlighted.

Can a child with an allergy take chocolate to the nursery?

It depends on the child’s needs and the nursery’s arrangements. According to Service-Public.fr, an individual care plan can set out the adjustments needed in a group setting for a child with an allergy or intolerance. Check the exact product with the people concerned and follow the PAI instructions if there is one.