Anyone comparing sugar content and labels
You want to choose a specific recipe rather than relying on a logo. According to the DGCCRF, Nutri-Score is voluntary, while a nutrition declaration is generally compulsory on prepacked foods.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone checking ingredients for their guests
You need to check the ingredients of the exact product you’ll be serving. Carrefour product listings for the recipes mentioned state that they may contain soya, traces of milk, or cereals containing wheat and barley, depending on the product.
What should you check?
First, identify the product you need for your recipe. For a chocolate drink powder, check the ingredients and nutrition information for the variant you’ve chosen, then pick a pack size that suits your evening.
| What to check | Look for | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | The name on the packaging and the preparation instructions: powder to mix into a drink or solid chocolate to grate. | If I want to make a drink, I need to avoid confusing drinking chocolate powder with chocolate to grate or grated cheese. Around 40% of consumers put identifying the product first. |
| Sugars and labelling | The ingredients list and the sugars shown in the nutrition information, comparing like for like, particularly per 100 g. | I want to compare the recipe I’ll be serving without relying on a logo alone. For around 30% of consumers, sugar content and labelling are the priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant, including any possible traces. | Before serving several guests, I need to know whether the recipe contains cereals or mentions soya or milk. This check is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size | The net weight and serving instructions on the packaging, so you can work out how much you’ll need. | For an evening with guests, I want to make sure there’s enough for everyone without choosing an unnecessarily large pack. Around 10% of consumers put pack size first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing drinking powder, chocolate to grate and grated cheese
These names refer to different products. The word “grated” alone isn’t enough to help you choose an ingredient for hot chocolate.
Before ordering, check the product name and preparation instructions. Are you planning to mix a powder into a drink or grate solid chocolate?
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Assuming Nutri-Score is compulsory
According to the DGCCRF, this logo is voluntary. If it’s not shown, you still need to check the nutrition information on a prepacked food.
Check the nutrition information and compare sugar content on a like-for-like basis, whether or not Nutri-Score is displayed.
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Assuming all powders have the same ingredients
Carrefour product listings for Nesquik, Poulain Grand Arôme and Banania show that ingredients and allergen information vary between products.
Before preparing drinks for your guests, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve bought.
Chocolate powder brands to know
Nesquik
For the 1 kg Nesquik tin featured by Carrefour, the ingredients list starts with sugar and states that it contains 23% low-fat cocoa powder.
- The listing for this product specifies its cocoa content.
- It mentions soya lecithin. This information doesn’t apply to every Nesquik variant.
Poulain
The 250 g Poulain Grand Arôme tin featured by Carrefour states a minimum cocoa content of 32%.
- The minimum cocoa content is stated for this recipe.
- The listing says it may contain milk and soya. The stated cocoa content doesn’t apply to every Poulain powder.
Banania
The 400 g Banania recipe featured by Carrefour combines cocoa, biscuit cereals, banana and honey.
- These ingredients set it apart from a simple cocoa powder recipe.
- The ingredients list includes wheat and barley, among other things. Check the pack if these cereals matter to your choice.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour lists a 400 g Classic' powder and an 800 g Classic' Intense recipe, which states a minimum cocoa content of 32%.
- These two products let you compare specific ingredients rather than making assumptions about the brand as a whole.
- The listing for the 400 g Classic' powder states that it contains 77.355 g of added sugars per 100 g. The Intense recipe listing mentions possible traces of milk. Each statement applies to its specific product.
Joybuy products
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on hot chocolate powder in France?
No. Nutri-Score is voluntary, according to the DGCCRF. For a prepacked food, check the nutrition declaration, which is generally compulsory, to compare the sugar content of the product you’ve chosen.
Does the “soda tax” automatically apply to hot chocolate powder?
No. The product name alone isn’t enough to determine whether it applies. The provisions published by Légifrance concern drinks and liquid preparations for drinks. Check the exact nature of the product rather than automatically treating a dry powder as belonging to these categories.
Which allergens should you check before serving several people?
Check the information for the exact variant you plan to serve. Carrefour product listings state that the 1 kg Nesquik tin contains soya lecithin, the 250 g Poulain Grand Arôme may contain traces of milk and soya, and the 400 g Banania recipe contains wheat and barley.