Cookies
Ovaltine Cocoa
150 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 6
Ovaltine Cocoa scores 6 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 Malt 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 cookies
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Clusters Cocoa & Cookie Crumble Sam's Pantry Less saturated fat · No artificial flavors Score 26 out of 100 , 20 points higher -
Cookies with cocoa Laurieri · 80 g Less saturated fat · No artificial flavors Score 17 out of 100 , 11 points higher -
No shell pistachios cocoa cookie Nichols Farms · 6 oz/170 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 19 out of 100 , 13 points higher -
Milano Hazelnut Hot Cocoa Pepperidge Farm · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · No artificial flavors Score 17 out of 100 , 11 points higher -
Cocoa snap cookies Shasha · 300 g Less saturated fat · No artificial flavors Score 16 out of 100 , 10 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Ovaltine Cocoa
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 21.3 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 8 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 0.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 507 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 94.5 = 5.5 → 6
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 507 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 21.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69.3 g |
| Sugars | 21.3 g |
| Added sugars | 21.3 g |
| Fiber | 2.7 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Salt | 0.4 g |
Serving: 5 COOKIES (37.5 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- VEGETABLE SHORTENING [COTTONSEED &/OR CANOLA &/OR PALM OIL]
- OVALTINE MALT DRINK MIX (BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, SKIMMED MILK POWDER, FAT REDUCED COCOA, WHEY POWDER, GLUCOSE SYRUP, RAPESEED OIL, MAGNESIUM CARBONATE, SALT, VANILLIN FLAVOR) (high concern)
- SKIMMED MILK POWDER
- INVERT SUGAR SYRUP (high concern)
- CORN STARCH
- SALT
- LEAVENING AGENTS (AMMONIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE) (not recognized)
- ARTIFICIAL VANILLA FLAVOR
- COLORED WITH BETA CAROTENE
Label text, as published
ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], SUGAR, VEGETABLE SHORTENING [COTTONSEED &/OR CANOLA &/OR PALM OIL], OVALTINE MALT DRINK MIX [BARLEY MALT EXTRACT, SKIMMED MILK POWDER, FAT REDUCED COCOA, WHEY POWDER, GLUCOSE SYRUP, RAPESEED OIL, MAGNESIUM CARBONATE, SALT, VANILLIN FLAVOR], SKIMMED MILK POWDER, INVERT SUGAR SYRUP, CORN STARCH, SALT, LEAVENING AGENTS (AMMONIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE), ARTIFICIAL VANILLA FLAVOR, COLORED WITH BETA CAROTENE
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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belVita Crunchy Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Fig newmans Newman's Own · 283 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Ricanelas Gamesa · 16.5 oz/1 lb/470 g High in sugarContains palm oilSeed-oil free Score 76 out of 100 Good -
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More from Ovaltine
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
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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
-
“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
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org