People preparing an individual snack
If you want to serve one portion without breaking a piece off a large bar, a chocolate bar or mini bar is easy to identify and serve. However, check the ingredients of the specific product you choose.
Who is this choice for?
Carers who pay close attention to labels
If you need to keep an eye on sugars, ingredients or allergens, read the information for the exact product. Anses reminds consumers that relevant allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list. According to Santé publique France, displaying the Nutri-Score is voluntary.
People organising several snacks at home
A multipack gives you several individual portions. Check how many units it contains and the weight of each one so you can prepare the planned portion. Don’t assume that all recipes or pack sizes are equivalent.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want a ready-to-serve unit or a bar that you can break into portions. Then compare the recipe with the amount that will actually be eaten.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Easy-to-serve portion | Number of units and weight of each one; bar, mini bar or breakable chocolate bar. | If I’m preparing a snack without breaking a piece off a bar, I look for a clearly sized unit. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise an easy-to-serve portion. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Sugars per 100 g and per planned portion, plus the ingredients list and allergens for the exact product. | If I need to keep an eye on what’s in a snack, choosing an individual format alone isn’t enough to guide me. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise checking the label. |
| Texture and inclusions | Whether it contains hazelnuts, biscuit, cereal or filling, and the exact type of product. | If someone has difficulty chewing, I want to know about the texture before choosing between plain chocolate and a recipe with inclusions. Around 21% of consumers would put this first. |
| Preparing several snacks | Number of bars in the pack, weight of each unit and stated storage instructions. | When I’m preparing several snacks at home, I want to be able to plan one unit for each person. Around 14% of consumers would put this organisational need first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a small bar means less sugar
The weight of one unit doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients. For example, the E.Leclerc product page for P'TIT DELI mini milk-filled bars lists 53 g of sugars per 100 g. This figure applies to that specific product, not all mini bars.
Compare the sugars per 100 g, then take the weight of the planned portion into account. If the pack displays a Nutri-Score, remember that it doesn’t replace checking the label.
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Confusing a chocolate bar, a biscuit product and a chocolate bar for breaking into portions
A recipe containing biscuit, cereal or filling won’t have the same ingredients or texture as plain chocolate.
Read the product description and ingredients before comparing two products of a similar weight.
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Forgetting about allergens and crunchy pieces
Recipes containing hazelnuts or other inclusions need particular care if the person has an allergy or difficulty chewing. Anses specifies that relevant allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
Check the label of the exact product every time you buy it. If there are any concerns about the person’s ability to chew or swallow, seek advice appropriate to their needs.
Brands to know for these formats
Milka
Carrefour lists milk chocolate mini bars and multipacks among its available formats.
- Formats to consider if you prefer to serve a small individual portion.
- Depending on the recipe, check in particular for hazelnuts or biscuit, as well as the texture.
Lindt
Lindt France lists, among others, NOCCIO Milk Hazelnut bars at 35 g and NUXOR Milk Hazelnut bars at 33 g.
- The stated weight makes it easy to identify a bar to serve on its own.
- Both products contain hazelnuts, so check the allergens and texture before choosing.
Nestlé
Carrefour lists a 30 g milk chocolate and puffed rice bar. Nestlé France also lists KitKat multipacks.
- These formats let you choose between serving one bar or preparing several portions.
- A puffed rice or biscuit recipe shouldn’t be treated as plain chocolate.
Côte d'Or
Carrefour lists Côte d'Or bars, including Nougatti and hazelnut varieties, as well as chocolate bars for breaking into portions.
- A choice of recipes and formats lets you decide between a bar and a chocolate bar to break into portions.
- Check the hazelnuts and other ingredients in the product you choose.
Carrefour
Carrefour lists milk chocolate bars under its own brand in packs of 10 × 21 g, as well as other recipes.
- The number of units and their weight can help you organise several snacks.
- A plain milk chocolate bar, a peanut recipe and a filled bar each need their own ingredients check.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc lists, among other products, P'TIT DELI mini milk-filled bars in a pack of 16 weighing 200 g, and filled bars in a pack of 5 weighing 130 g.
- These pack sizes may suit you if you’re preparing several snacks.
- These are filled or biscuit-based recipes, so check their ingredients rather than treating them as plain chocolate.
Bars and multipacks available on Joybuy
These products offer two ways to prepare an individual snack: choose a single bar or portion out the units in a multipack. The recipe and texture should still be checked for the person concerned.
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SNICKERS Peanut Caramel Milk Chocolate Bar, 50 g
Worth considering if you’d like to serve a 50 g bar as an individual snack. It contains peanuts and caramel, so check the exact product label if there’s an allergy. You should also consider the texture if chewing is difficult.
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Côte d'Or Nougat Hazelnut, 30 g
This 30 g bar is a small individual portion. The hazelnuts and nougat mean you should check the allergens and texture. To find out how much sugar is in a portion, refer to the values on the packaging.
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Nestle KitKat Strawberry Short Cake, 9 pieces, 104.4 g
The pack of 9 pieces can be used to prepare several snacks. This is a KitKat Strawberry Short Cake recipe, not a plain chocolate bar, so check its ingredients, allergens and texture. If sugars are an important factor in your choice, check the packaging too.
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Kinder Chocolate Bars Maxi Pack, 11 bars, 231 g
This pack of 11 bars may be suitable for preparing several portions at home. If each bar needs to be taken out separately, check how it’s packaged. Also check the label for the exact product to see the sugars and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nutri-Score compulsory on chocolate bars in France?
No. According to Santé publique France, producers display the Nutri-Score voluntarily. When choosing a packaged chocolate bar, also read the nutritional information, portion size and ingredients list. A score alone isn’t enough to judge whether a recipe is suitable for someone.
Does the soft drinks tax apply to chocolate bars?
No. The levy described by the French Ministry of the Economy applies to sugary drinks, not chocolate bars. To compare chocolate products, check the sugars listed in their nutritional information instead.
What should I check before serving a bar to an older person?
Check the weight of the planned portion, the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the exact product. If an allergy, prescription or difficulty chewing or swallowing affects the choice of snack, ask the health professional who cares for the person for advice.
Is a hazelnut bar suitable if someone has difficulty chewing?
Don’t assume so: crunchy inclusions can make a bar harder to eat. Check the recipe and texture of the specific product, then seek advice suited to the person if their difficulty chewing or swallowing makes it necessary.