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Brand owned by Mondelez International (United States) · about the brand
Hot Chocolate
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This beverage mix is primarily composed of sugar and cocoa powder, with artificial vanilla flavouring. The high sugar content is the main nutritional concern, aligning with WHO recommendations to limit free sugar intake. While cocoa offers some antioxidants, its benefits are overshadowed by the sugar load. The artificial flavouring, though common, lacks transparency regarding its specific compounds.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Cocoa powder
High added sugar content; contains artificial vanilla flavouring.
The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This beverage mix contains a significant amount of added sugar, which is the primary nutritional concern. It also includes cocoa powder and artificial vanilla flavouring, whose specific compounds are not disclosed.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Looking for a lower-sugar option — Added sugar is 69.9 g per 100 g.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for beverage. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Infants under 1
AvoidContains added sugar, which is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age.
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
LimitContains high levels of added sugar, which can contribute to dental caries and unhealthy dietary patterns if consumed frequently or in large amounts. Parents should limit intake.
Why the score is capped
Very high added sugar
Rule F-CAP-01
What's good
Contains cocoa powder, which offers some antioxidant properties.
Watch out for
High added sugar content, which should be consumed in moderation.
Artificial flavouring substances, which lack specific compound disclosure.
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Added Sugars
Sugars added to food, and the sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juice concentrates, are "free sugars". The WHO guideline recommends that they stay below 10% of total energy intake and suggests below 5% for additional benefit. Where the sugar sits in the ingredient list and how many grams the panel declares is what matters; this is information, because the nutrition score already prices the grams.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO, Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015)
Added Sugars: regulation, sources and other products →Flavouring Substances
Indian rules classify added flavours as natural, nature-identical (chemically synthesised copies of natural compounds) or artificial, and require the class to be declared. The label names the class, not the compounds, so a reader cannot see which substances make up the blend, or whether it carries something they avoid. This is information about transparency, not a finding of harm.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, flavours; FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020
Flavouring Substances: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Very high added sugar content, which exceeds WHO recommendations for daily intake of free sugars.
Flavouring Substances: A flavour blend whose individual compounds are not listed on the label, reducing transparency.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
The product is described as 'Hot Chocolate' and contains cocoa powder and sugar, which are typical ingredients for hot chocolate.
The product is explicitly labeled as 'Drinking Chocolate For Milk', indicating its intended use.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
-
1.
Sugar
-
2.
Cocoa Powder 30%Cocoa Powder (30%*)
-
3.
Artificial (Vanilla) Flavouring Substances
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 379 kcal |
| Protein | 6.7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 85.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 70.2 g |
| Added Sugars | 69.9 g |
| Total Fat | 3.3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 2 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 7 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.
Compare with other other beverage products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
Also on this shelf
More Other Beverage products we've analysed, in name order.
What are the ingredients in Hot Chocolate?
The label of Hot Chocolate lists 3 ingredients, in label order: Sugar, Cocoa powder, Artificial (Vanilla) flavouring substances. Flagged by the analysis: Artificial (Vanilla) flavouring substances.
Is Hot Chocolate safe to eat?
Hot Chocolate scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). The score is held down by this product's nutrition profile, which dominates the assessment regardless of the rest of the formulation. This beverage mix contains a significant amount of added sugar, which is the primary nutritional concern. It also includes cocoa powder and artificial vanilla flavouring, whose specific compounds are not disclosed.
Why does Hot Chocolate score 1.5/10?
What the analysis notes: High added sugar content, which should be consumed in moderation. Artificial flavouring substances, which lack specific compound disclosure.
Who should avoid Hot Chocolate?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Monitoring sugar intake; Sensitive to artificial flavourings; Children under 5 due to high sugar.
Is Hot Chocolate suitable for babies or young children?
Infants under 1: Avoid. Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.
Is Hot Chocolate high in sugar?
Yes — 70.2 g of total sugar per 100 g, above the 22.5 g per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high. The label declares 69.9 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Are the claims on the Hot Chocolate pack accurate?
Yes — all 2 claims on the pack checked out against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
Is Hot Chocolate vegetarian?
Hot Chocolate is marked vegetarian, and contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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