Chocolate milks
Nestlé Nesquik Chocolate Lowfat Milk
14 fl oz (414 mL)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 40
Nestlé Nesquik Chocolate Lowfat Milk scores 40 out of 100 (Okay) 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 7.5 points Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better milk
-
1% Lowfat Milk Lactaid · 64 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Organic 1% Lowfat Milk Horizon Organic · 1/2 gallon (1.89 L) Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
1% Lowfat Milk Hood · 0.5 gallon Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
1% Lowfat Milk Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 100 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Cultured Lowfat Buttermilk organic valley quart Organic Valley · 32 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 99 out of 100 , 59 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chocolate Lowfat Milk
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 1.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 1.5 points
- Gellan gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 2.5 g / 100 g minus 1.5 points
- Salt 0.6 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 14 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 60 = 40
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [15]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Sugars | 39 g |
| Added sugars | 4.3 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Salt | 0.6 g |
Serving: 1 bottle (414 g)
Ingredients
- Lowfat Milk
- Sugar (high concern)
- Cocoa Processed with Alkali
- Calcium Carbonate
- Cellulose Gel
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Carrageenan (moderate concern)
- Salt
- Gellan Gum
- Cellulose Gum (moderate concern)
- Vitamin A Palmitate
- Vitamin D3
Label text, as published
Lowfat Milk, Sugar, and Less than 2% of Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gel, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Salt, Gellan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More chocolate milks on GoodSwap
-
Chocolate Reduced Fat Ultra-filtered Milk Fairlife · 52 fl oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
fairlife Nutrition Plan Shake Fairlife · 4080 mL Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 31 out of 100 Poor -
Chocolate Reduced Fat Ultra-Filtered Milk Fairlife · 14 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 32 out of 100 Poor -
Ovaltine Rich Chocolate Flavor Ovaltine · 12 oz High in sugarContains added sugarsNo additives Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Classic Chocolate High Protein Milk Shake Slate · 11 fl oz/325 mL Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 55 out of 100 Okay -
Chocolate Organic Lowfat Milk Horizon Organic · 8 fl oz (237 mL) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsCertified organic Score 61 out of 100 Good
More from Nestlé Nesquik
Sources
-
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
-
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
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
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
-
“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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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