Common questions

Is Dark chocolate healthy?

Dark chocolate scores 63/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — a fair-to-good score — solid, with tradeoffs. This dark chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa solids, which is beneficial, but it also includes refined sugar, which is a concern due to its potential health impacts.

How processed is Dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

Which ingredients drive Dark chocolate's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Cocoa mass counts in its favor; Sugar, Emulsifier (soy lecithin) are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Dark chocolate

Name: Dark chocolate
Brand: Coles

Coles

Bioengineered

Fair

Analysis updated June 2026 · How Scout scores

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At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1

Harmful ingredients 2

Owned by Coles Group

Category Chocolate

Summary

This dark chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa solids, which is beneficial, but it also includes refined sugar, which is a concern due to its potential health impacts. The product is classified as ultra-processed due to the presence of an emulsifier and refined sugar, which limits its score despite the relatively clean ingredient list. The use of soy lecithin as an emulsifier is minimal, but the processing level and added sugar prevent a higher rating.

Key ingredients 3

Cocoa mass

Very Good

Cocoa mass is rich in antioxidants and provides the characteristic flavor of dark chocolate, making it a beneficial ingredient.

See more about Cocoa mass →

Sugar

Bad

Sugar adds sweetness but can contribute to health issues if consumed in excess, which is why it is considered harmful.

See more about Sugar →

Emulsifier (soy lecithin)

Very Bad

Soy lecithin is an additive used to improve texture, but it is highly processed and may be concerning for some consumers.

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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