Chocolates
M&M's Peanut Butter M&M's Minis
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 3
M&M's Peanut Butter M&M's Minis scores 3 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better chocolate candy
-
Peanut Butter Cups Quest · 1.48 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 44 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Peanut Butter Cups Atkins Endulge · 12 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 47 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Reese's zero sugar Miniature Cups Chocolate Candy & Peanut Butter Reese's · 5.1 oz/144 g Less sugar · No added sugars Score 44 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar Larabar · 8 bars Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 51 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Kind Protein Max Less sugar · No added sugars Score 58 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Peanut Butter M&M's Minis
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Lactose minus 20 points
- Milk chocolate (ingredient) minus 7.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 48.4 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 14.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 516 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 3.2 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 97.5 = 2.5 → 3
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]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 516 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 29 g |
| Saturated fat | 14.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 54.8 g |
| Sugars | 48.4 g |
| Fiber | 3.2 g |
| Protein | 9.7 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Serving: 3 Tbsp (31 g)
Ingredients
- milk chocolate (sugar: co butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, peanuts, milkfat, soy lecithin, salt, natural flavor) (moderate concern)
- sugar (high concern)
- peanut butter (partially defatted peanues, palm oil)
- vegetable oil palm and sunflower oils)
- hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Label text, as published
milk chocolate (sugar: co butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, peanuts, milkfat, soy lecithin, salt, natural flavor), sugar, peanut butter (partially defatted peanues, palm oil), vegetable oil palm and sunflower oils) and/or hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Soy
- Not vegan
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
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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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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
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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
-
“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
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“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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu