Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Hershey's Zero Sugar Chocolate Candy ultra-processed?

3 oz (85 g) Milk chocolate candies Sold in the United States and Bolivia

Pack of Hershey's Zero Sugar Chocolate Candy

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 17 ingredients
  • 5 additives

Less processed bonbons

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

maltitol, vegetable oil (palm oil, shea oil, sunflower oil, palm kernel oil, safflower oil), polydextrose, chocolate, cocoa, cream, calcium carbonate 2%, cocoa processed with alkali, NATURAL and ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, sodium caseinate, lecithin, pgpr

Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate , E965 Maltitol

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: Vegetable fat.

As written on the pack

MALTITOL, VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, SHEA OIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, SAFFLOWER OIL), POLYDEXTROSE, CHOCOLATE, COCOA, CREAM (MILK), 2% CALCIUM CARBONATE, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SODIUM CASEINATE (MILK), LECITHIN (SOY), PGPR.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) is an emulsifier made from castor oil.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
4 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Chocolates Products in the category "Chocolates" are at least group 3.
  • Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 8 milk chocolate candies

From least to most processed, this one ranks 3rd. 100% of the milk chocolate candies here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 8 milk chocolate candies, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0034000270019, last edited 24 May 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.