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Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Chocolate candies

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

14 oz

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains caffeine
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 24

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Sugars 46.7 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better chocolate candy

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Chocolate (sweetened, ingredient)
    Strong Contains added sugar. [1]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][5]
  • Dextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
  • Shellac (confectioner's glaze)
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
subtotal−33

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring, glazing agent and modified starch. [5]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 46.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 20 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [6]
  • Salt 0.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [7]
  • Energy 438 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
subtotal−22
TOTAL 24Poor

100 − 76 = 24

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00004333000058 · 2026-03-26

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy438 kcal
Fat30 g
Saturated fat20 g
Sugars46.7 g
Added sugars43.3 g
Fiber6.7 g
Protein6.7 g
Salt0.4 g

Serving: 30 g

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

DARK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, WHOLE MILK POWDER, BUTTER FAT, COCOA POWDER [PROCESSED WITH ALKALIS] SOY LECITHIN [AN EMULSIFIER], SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR), COFFEE BEANS, DEXTRIN (CORN), CONFECTIONER'S SHELLAC, COCOA POWDER (COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI)

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy

  • Not vegan
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest chocolate candies in the US

More from Trader Joe's

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  7. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  8. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”

    fda.gov

  12. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”

    eur-lex.europa.eu