Is Dark Chocolate Lovers Candy Assortment Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Hershey's
Dark Chocolate Lovers Candy Assortment is one of the dessert products analyzed by Zerotox for Hershey's. The product scores 45/100 in Zerotox, meaning it shows multiple flagged ingredients that may matter for sensitive users.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Corn Syrup, Sugar, Pgpr affect the overall evaluation.
45 / 100
Why score is 45
The ingredient analysis reveals several synthetic additives, including sodium metabisulfite and PGPR, which raise quality and safety concerns. The presence of palm oil also indicates a highly processed composition.
Main concern
Sodium metabisulfite is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about artificial additives.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains chocolate and cocoa, which are derived from natural sources and provide a rich flavor.
- Coconut is included, adding a unique texture and taste to the assortment.
Concerns
- Sodium metabisulfite is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about artificial additives.
- The use of palm oil contributes to environmental concerns and indicates a processed ingredient.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this dessert.
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Is Corn Syrup safe in this dessert?
Bad
Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup is a highly processed sweetener that contributes to the overall sugar content and raises concerns about excessive sweetness.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: corn syrup
-
Is Coconut safe in this dessert?
Good
Coconut is used here as base. Coconut adds natural flavor and texture, enhancing the overall quality of the candy assortment.
Role in formula: base
Original: coconut
-
Is Sugar safe in this dessert?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a refined sweetener that contributes to the high sugar content and raises concerns about health implications.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Chocolate safe in this dessert?
Good
Chocolate is used here as base. Chocolate provides a rich flavor and is a key ingredient in this candy assortment, contributing positively to its quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: chocolate
-
Is Cocoa safe in this dessert?
Good
Cocoa is used here as base. Cocoa is a natural ingredient that enhances flavor and provides some beneficial compounds, supporting the overall quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: cocoa
-
Is Vegetable Oil safe in this dessert?
Medium
Vegetable Oil is used here as emulsifier. Vegetable oil, including palm oil, is used for texture but raises concerns about health and environmental impact due to its processing.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: vegetable oil (palm oil, shea oil, sunflower oil, palm kernel oil, or safflower oil)
-
Is Salt safe in this dessert?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor and is a common ingredient in confectionery, contributing positively to taste.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Soy Lecithin safe in this dessert?
Medium
Soy Lecithin is used here as emulsifier. Soy lecithin is a common emulsifier that helps blend ingredients but is derived from soy, which may concern some consumers.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: soy lecithin (soy)
-
Is Milk Fat safe in this dessert?
Medium
Milk Fat is used here as base. Milk fat adds creaminess and flavor but is a dairy ingredient that may not be suitable for all consumers.
Role in formula: base
Original: milk fat
-
Is Pgpr safe in this dessert?
Bad
Pgpr is used here as emulsifier. PGPR is a synthetic emulsifier that raises concerns about artificial additives and their impact on health.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: PGPR
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this dessert?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is used to enhance taste but can be vague in terms of specific ingredients, raising transparency concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: natural flavor
-
Is Sodium Metabisulfite safe in this dessert?
Bad
Sodium Metabisulfite is used here as preservative. Sodium metabisulfite is a synthetic preservative that maintains freshness but raises concerns about artificial additives.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: sodium metabisulfite (to maintain freshness)
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 2423138
More from this brand: Hershey's products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk , soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.