Chocolate candies
Trader Joe's Single Origin Organic Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Bean
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 38
Trader Joe's Single Origin Organic Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Bean scores 38 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 14 points Sugars 36 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 bars
-
100% Cacao Dark Chocolate with organic chocolate nibs Pascha · 2.82 oz 80 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Dark chocolate walnuts Bazzini Llc · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Cashew Butter Filled Dark Chocolate D.a.T. Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 76 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Dark chocolate power bark Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 77 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Organic Cacao Sweet Nibs Navitas Organics · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Single Origin Organic Dark Chocolate with Vanilla Bean
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Sunflower lecithin minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 36 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 20 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 560 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 12 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 62.5 = 37.5 → 38
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). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 560 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 36 g |
| Saturated fat | 20 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56 g |
| Sugars | 36 g |
| Added sugars | 36 g |
| Fiber | 12 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 25g
Ingredients
- Organic Unsweetened Chocolate
- Organic Cane Sugar (high concern)
- Organic Cocoa Butter
- Organic Ground Vanilla Beans
- Sunflower Lecithin (Emulsifier)
Label text, as published
Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Ground Vanilla Beans, Sunflower Lecithin (Emulsifier)
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More chocolate candies on GoodSwap
-
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars Unreal · 120 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Acai & Blueberry Flavors Brookside · 32 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 5 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Dark Chocolate Fig Truffles That's It. · 20 oz/567 g High in sugarContains added sugarsCertified organicNo additives Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
Reese's zero sugar Miniature Cups Chocolate Candy & Peanut Butter Reese's · 5.1 oz/144 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains sugar alcohols Score 44 out of 100 Okay -
Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds Hershey's · 2.6 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Creme de Menthé Thins Andes · 4.67 oz (132 g) Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 0 out of 100 Bad
More from Trader Joe's
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Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Korean Beefless Bulgogi Trader Joe's · 10 oz Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Organic iced oatmeal baked whole grain bar Trader Joe's · 7.62 oz Score 15 out of 100 Bad
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“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