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Kit Kat

Common questions

Is Kit Kat healthy?

Kit Kat scores 20/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Kit Kat scores 20/100 — the cleanest mass-market candy on this list.

Does Kit Kat contain seed oils?

Yes — Scout's ingredient analysis flags seed oils in Kit Kat, and that is reflected in its score.

Has Kit Kat been lab-tested?

Yes. Kit Kat carries an independent laboratory panel from Independent third-party laboratory testing covering 1 contaminant (including Arsenic) — the full results are on this page.

How processed is Kit Kat?

Kit Kat is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Kit Kat compare to other candy?

Kit Kat ranks #24 of 56 candy in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is SOLELY Organic Mango & Guava Fruit Gummies at 88/100.

Which ingredients drive Kit Kat's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Cocoa Butter counts in its favor; Sugar, Wheat Flour, Refined Palm Kernel Oil are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

Healthy alternatives

88
SOLELY Organic Mango & Guava Fruit Gummies
$31.92
88
L'Abbaye de Saint-Severin Framboise Melisse
88
Chitralada Sweetened Flavoured Milk Tablet
87
Mimi Caramelle Sugar Free Fresh Mint

See more

Kit Kat

Kit Kat
Contains seed oils Lab tested
20 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1
Harmful ingredients 6
Owned by The Hershey Company (U.S. License from Nestlé)
Category Candy
Summary

Kit Kat scores 20/100 — the cleanest mass-market candy on this list. Third-party 2025 testing detected 230 ppb arsenic. Free of petroleum dyes and hydrogenated oils, but still contains refined palm kernel oil, PGPR synthetic emulsifier, and artificial flavor. Lower processing burden than most competitors but still ultra-processed. Distributed in the US by The Hershey Company under license from Nestlé.

Contaminants 1

Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing

Arsenic
230 ppb
High

Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. No safe level of arsenic exposure exists; chronic exposure is linked to increased cancer risk (lung, skin, kidney, bladder), cardiovascular disease, and neurodevelopmental harm in children.

Independent third-party testing detected arsenic at 230 parts per billion — a notable contamination level.

Key ingredients 14

Refined Palm Kernel Oil
Very Bad

Industrial tropical oil; deforestation concerns and high saturated fat content.

See more about Refined Palm Kernel Oil →
PGPR (Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate)
Very Bad

Synthetic emulsifier used to reduce cocoa butter requirements.

See more about PGPR (Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate) →
Sugar
Bad

First ingredient — refined sucrose.

See more about Sugar →
Wheat Flour
Bad

Refined wheat flour.

See more about Wheat Flour →
Soy Lecithin
Bad

Industrial emulsifier, typically GMO soy.

See more about Soy Lecithin →
Artificial Flavor
Bad

Undisclosed synthetic flavor compounds.

See more about Artificial Flavor →
Nonfat Milk
Neutral

Dairy powder.

See more about Nonfat Milk →
Chocolate
Neutral

Cacao solids.

See more about Chocolate →
Lactose
Neutral

Milk sugar.

See more about Lactose →
Milk Fat
Neutral

Dairy fat.

See more about Milk Fat →
Yeast
Neutral

Wafer leavening.

See more about Yeast →
Salt
Neutral

Sodium.

See more about Salt →
Sodium Bicarbonate
Neutral

Leavening agent.

See more about Sodium Bicarbonate →
Cocoa Butter
Good

Natural traditional fat pressed from cacao.

See more about Cocoa Butter →

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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