Who is this choice for?

People who want to count their bites

You’d rather decide how many caramels to have before a session than dip into a bag without keeping track. Knowing the number of pieces or the weight of each sweet makes it easier to set a portion.

People who think about when they eat

As exercise approaches, your priority is to consider how much you’re eating and what you usually tolerate well. IRBMS highlights the importance of digestion before a competition, particularly when it comes to foods that are difficult to digest.

Shoppers who compare labels

You want to distinguish the size of a bite from what it’s made of. Nutrition information per 100 g, the portion you’ll actually eat, the ingredients and the allergens each answer different questions.

What should you check?

Start by deciding what portion suits you, then read the label for the exact product, bearing in mind when you plan to eat it.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Easy-to-count portions Check the number of pieces and, if shown, the weight of each sweet or portion. I want to decide how many bites to have before opening the bag, rather than relying on the word ‘mini’ alone. Around 40% of consumers put portion control first.
Timing before exercise Consider the quantity, the fat content shown and your experience with this confectionery. If my session is coming up, I’d rather choose something I know than find out how I react on the day. Feeling comfortable as exercise approaches is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Compare the sugars and fats per 100 g, then read the ingredients and allergen information. Before choosing, I need to read the ingredients and check for allergens in the exact product. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.
Product format at the retailer Check the product name and packaging: a small sweet isn’t necessarily sold as a ‘mini’ caramel. I’m looking for a product I can identify at my usual retailer, without confusing two caramel formats. For around 10% of consumers, finding this format is the main consideration.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘mini’ means different ingredients

    A small bite is easier to count, but its size doesn’t change the caramel’s ingredients. Carrefour’s product page for CARAMBAR Mini Caramel Tendre lists 394 kcal per 100 g; Auchan’s page gives 4.7 g of sugars for an 8 g caramel.

    Decide how many pieces you’ll have, then check the nutrition information for the amount you plan to eat.

  • Expecting every bag to show a Nutri-Score

    According to the DGCCRF, displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary in France. Nutrition labelling for prepacked foods is subject to separate rules, with some exemptions.

    If the pack displays a Nutri-Score, you can use it as additional information; also compare the nutrition information, ingredients and allergens.

  • Eating more because each bite looks small

    The size of each sweet doesn’t determine how much you end up eating. Before a competition, IRBMS stresses the importance of allowing time for your meal to digest and avoiding foods that are difficult to digest.

    Decide how much to eat in advance, taking your usual habits and the time left before exercise into account.

  • Overlooking allergen information

    Carrefour’s product page for CARAMBAR Mini Caramel Tendre lists milk and possible traces of nuts. The product page for Auchan’s Guérande sea salt soft caramel lists milk and possible traces of soya, hazelnuts and almonds.

    If these allergens are a concern for you, check the information on the exact pack before eating it.

Brands and products to know

CARAMBAR

Carrefour’s product page describes CARAMBAR Mini Caramel Tendre, sold in a 200 g bag, as a mini-format soft caramel.

  • The word ‘mini’ explicitly refers to the format of this product.
  • For this product, the page lists 394 kcal per 100 g, milk and possible traces of nuts. These details don’t apply to every CARAMBAR product.

Auchan

Auchan’s product page for its Guérande sea salt soft caramel states that the 200 g pack contains 25 sweets and provides nutrition information per 8 g sweet.

  • The page lists 31 kcal and 4.7 g of sugars per 8 g sweet, so you can check the values for each one.
  • This product isn’t described as a mini format or as individually wrapped sweets. It contains milk and may contain traces of soya, hazelnuts and almonds.

Carrefour

Carrefour provides a product page for the 200 g CARAMBAR Mini Caramel Tendre, which is useful for identifying this format precisely.

  • The product name and packaging help distinguish it from other caramels.
  • Not all the caramels sold by this retailer are mini caramels: check the name and label of the product you choose.

A selection of caramels on Joybuy

This caramel sweet product could suit you if you’re looking for pieces to count before a session. If the size of each bite matters to you, check its weight: the number of pieces alone doesn’t confirm that it’s a mini format.

Carambar Caramel, pack of 180 pieces

Carambar Caramel, 180 pieces

The stated pack size of 180 pieces lets you choose how many sweets to have in advance. Check the weight of each piece if you’re specifically looking for a mini bite. The information for this product mentions milk and possible traces of hazelnuts: check the pack label if these allergens are a concern for you.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is Nutri-Score compulsory on caramels sold in France?

No. The DGCCRF says that Nutri-Score is voluntary. Nutrition labelling is generally compulsory for prepacked foods, subject to exemptions under the regulations. So, the absence of a Nutri-Score doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether a bag meets labelling requirements.

How should you compare two caramels of different sizes?

First compare their nutrition information per 100 g, then work out how it relates to the amount you plan to eat. Check the ingredients and allergens too: the weight of each sweet or the nutrition information per sweet, when provided, makes it easier to work out your portion.

Should you try mini caramels just before a competition?

It’s best not to try a new confectionery product on the day of a competition. IRBMS stresses the importance of having an easy-to-digest pre-competition meal and allowing time before exercise; a caramel is no substitute for that meal. Consider the amount you eat and what you usually tolerate well.

What should you check if you’re allergic to milk or nuts?

Before eating, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Carrefour and Auchan product pages mentioned both list milk; the first also mentions possible traces of nuts, while the second mentions possible traces of hazelnuts and almonds in particular.