Cocoa powder for beverages with sugar
Swiss Miss Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix
8
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 3
Swiss Miss Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix 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 Corn syrup: 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 hot cocoa and chocolate drink mixes
-
Hot Cocoa Mix Starbucks · 30 oz (850 g) 1.87 lb No gut-studied emulsifiers · No corn syrup Score 43 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Milk Chocolate Flavor Reduced Calorie Hot Cocoa Mix Swiss Miss · 3.12 oz Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 48 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Double chocolate hot cocoa mix, double chocolate Ghirardelli · 10.5 oz/298 g Less saturated fat · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 45 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Mocha hot cocoa mix, mocha Ghirardelli · 10.5 oz/298 g Less saturated fat · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 45 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Double chocolate flavored hot cocoa mix Good & Gather · 16 oz/1 lb/453 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 66 out of 100 , 63 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Hydrogenated oil minus 2.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Potassium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 69.2 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 5.1 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 1.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 410 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 97 = 3
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 6.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.1 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 87.2 g |
| Sugars | 69.2 g |
| Added sugars | 61.5 g |
| Fiber | 2.6 g |
| Protein | 2.6 g |
| Salt | 1.1 g |
Serving: 39g
Ingredients
- Sugar (high concern)
- Corn Syrup (high concern)
- Modified Whey
- Cocoa (Processed with Alkali)
- Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
- Nonfat Milk
- Marshmallows (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Natural Flavor) (not recognized)
- Salt
- Dipotassium Phosphate
- Mono- and Diglycerides
- Natural Flavor
Label text, as published
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Whey, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Nonfat Milk, Marshmallows (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Natural Flavor), Less than 2% of: Salt, Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Natural Flavor. CONTAINS: MILK.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
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
-
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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
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
-
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
-
“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