When making several hot chocolates over the holidays, first choose a powder in a size and with a serving suggestion that suits the number of cups you expect to make. Then compare recipes and sugar content on a like-for-like basis. A large pack doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients, so check the allergens for the exact product, especially if you’re sharing it at a family get-together.
You make several cups over the holidays and want a pack size that suits your needs, without having to buy more powder for every afternoon snack. The net weight and serving suggestion on the pack help you plan how many drinks you can make.
You compare the sugar per 100 g of powder and, if the information is shown on the pack, per prepared cup too. Nutri-Score can help you make sense of the information when it’s displayed, but Santé publique France says its use is voluntary.
You read the ingredients for the exact product before sharing it at an afternoon snack. Carrefour product pages for Nesquik, Poulain Grand Arôme and Banania products mention soya, possible traces of milk, or cereals containing wheat and barley, depending on the recipe.
For regular afternoon snacks, start with the number of cups you’ll make and the serving suggestion. Then compare the sugar content and ingredients in recipes that suit your household.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | The net weight and how many cups you can make using the stated serving suggestion. | If you make several cups at every afternoon snack, you’ll want a pack that suits how often you prepare them. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise pack size. |
| Sugar | Sugar per 100 g of powder; to compare prepared drinks, check the serving size and any added ingredients. | When comparing two recipes, you’ll want to see how much sugar each contains on the same basis. Around 33% of consumers would make this their first criterion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any “may contain” statements for the product and pack size you’re considering. | If you’re sharing an afternoon snack with someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the recipe before choosing a pack. Around 25% of consumers would put this check first. |
Powder sold in a tin or sachet and ready-to-drink chocolate milk are sold in different types of packaging. Carrefour and Auchan’s powder ranges include products sold in kilogram packs.
For powder, start with the number of cups you need to make, the net weight and the serving suggestion. If you’re looking for a ready-to-drink option, compare those separately.
Santé publique France says that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. The DGCCRF distinguishes this rating from the nutrition declaration, which is compulsory for the relevant prepacked foods.
Pay particular attention to the sugar per 100 g in the nutrition information. If Nutri-Score is displayed, use it as an additional guide, but don’t assume anything from its absence.
A Carrefour product page for a reduced-sugar Nesquik powder compares its sugar content per mug with the average for cocoa drinks for children. This doesn’t mean the product has been ranked against all other powders.
Compare the sugar per 100 g in the products you’re interested in, then take account of the serving suggestion and ingredients used to make each cup.
Carrefour product pages list soya lecithin in a 1 kg Nesquik product, possible traces of milk and soya in Poulain Grand Arôme 250 g, and wheat and barley in Banania Original 1 kg.
Before serving a product to anyone who needs to avoid these ingredients, check the label on the exact product you’ve bought, including any statements about possible traces.
Instant cocoa drink mixes available in several pack sizes, including a 1 kg tin featured by Carrefour.
A range of cocoa powders that includes Grand Arôme and Super Poulain.
Chocolate powders that include a recipe combining cocoa and cereals.
Carrefour’s own-brand range in its hot chocolate powder aisle includes 400 g and 1 kg tins.
Auchan’s hot chocolate powder range includes its own-brand products, including 250 g of pure, unsweetened cocoa.
E.Leclerc’s range includes several own brands and types of powder, including instant mixes and unsweetened cocoa.
No. You shouldn’t automatically treat dry powder as a drink subject to this tax. Article 1613 ter of the French General Tax Code, published on Légifrance, applies to drinks and liquid preparations for drinks. For a ready-to-drink product, check the conditions set out in the legislation and the product in question.
No. Santé publique France says that displaying Nutri-Score is voluntary. However, the DGCCRF states that a nutrition declaration is compulsory for the relevant prepacked foods. Check it to compare sugar, fat and other nutritional values on a like-for-like basis.
Start by comparing the “of which sugars” figure per 100 g of powder, then check the serving suggestion for one cup. If you’re comparing prepared drinks, also take account of the milk, plant-based drink or other ingredients you add.
Check the ingredients and any statements about possible traces on every pack you use. Carrefour product pages for specific products mention soya in Nesquik, possible traces of milk and soya in Poulain Grand Arôme, and wheat and barley in Banania Original. Don’t assume these details apply to every variety.