Did you know some chocolate powders can harm your health? That's the key finding from the latest 60 Million Consommateurs study, where experts tested 15 popular brands including Banania, Nesquik, Poulain, Van Houten, and store brands like Carrefour Bio and Cora.
These products often pack excessive sugar, additives, sweeteners, and minimal cocoa, compromising quality.
Based on their rigorous analysis, the three worst to avoid are Ovaltine, Banania, and Nesquik due to their low cocoa content.
Ovaltine ranks as the top brand to avoid, containing just 13% cocoa.
Banania is second, with only 19% cocoa.
Nesquik comes third, offering merely 23% cocoa.
The 60 Million Consommateurs team of journalists and experts evaluated 15 chocolate powders. Canderel's Cankao without aspartame placed near the bottom, while Ovaltine ranked dead last.
These poor performers stem from low cocoa levels and high sugar content. Ovaltine has only 13% cocoa, plus two additives; Cankao features three synthetic sweeteners.
Not ideal for breakfast. Other brands like Banania (19% cocoa) and Nesquik (23%) fare similarly poorly.
Lower cocoa also means fewer fibers, as fibers derive from cocoa. Many brands omit fiber details on labels, raising concerns. Meanwhile, sugar levels are alarmingly high.
These drinks are excessively sweet, with sugar often listed as the primary ingredient.
In a typical 200 ml bowl, you consume about 20 g of sugar—40% of the daily recommended intake.
Brands like Cora, Nestlé, Nature Bio, Carrefour Bio, and Ethiquable reach up to 23 g per bowl, akin to a sugary soda at breakfast.
Not all news is bad—quality options exist with high cocoa content for better nutrition.
Opt for pure cocoa powders without added sugar; sweeten lightly if needed.
Top picks: 1st, Jolivia raw organic cocoa powder (16.5/20 score for superior composition); 2nd, Naturela pure lean cocoa; 3rd, Van Houten organic unsweetened cocoa. All deliver excellent nutritional profiles.
