Shoppers looking for a stated cocoa percentage
If you have a particular cocoa content in mind, check the figure on the exact bar rather than relying on the word ‘dark’.
Who is this for?
People carrying a treat with lunch
A bar may be convenient to carry, but its size and packaging matter if you plan to eat only part of it while out.
Allergen-aware buyers
Check the current ingredients and allergen statement for the exact variant. Dark chocolate products can carry different ingredient and precautionary warnings.
What should you check?
Start with the cocoa percentage if that defines the dark chocolate you want. Then compare like-for-like nutrition figures and the practical details of the bar you would carry.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Look for a percentage on the exact product. Lindt Excellence Dark 70% and Galaxy Fusions Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa each state 70%; Cadbury’s Bournville Classic product page identifies a dark bar but does not give a percentage. | I want to know the declared cocoa content before choosing, rather than assuming every bar labelled dark meets the same preference. |
| Nutrition and portion | Compare energy, sugars and saturates per 100g, then check the figures for the amount you plan to eat. Lindt Shop UK lists 566 kcal, 29g sugars and 24g saturates per 100g for its Excellence Dark 70% bar. | A smaller portion might suit my lunch plans, so I need to distinguish the whole bar from the amount I intend to eat. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen statement for the exact variant. Lindt Shop UK says its Excellence Dark 70% bar may contain nuts, milk, soya and sesame. | When changing flavours or brands, I need the warning for the bar in my hand, not an assumption based on its name. |
| Pack format | Check the bar weight and whether the packaging suits carrying a partly eaten bar. A stated portion on a nutrition panel does not establish that portions are individually wrapped. | If I am taking only part of a larger bar, I need a practical way to carry that portion. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means low in sugar or a substitute for lunch
Cocoa percentage alone does not describe a bar’s nutrition. Lindt Shop UK lists 29g sugars and 24g saturates per 100g for its Excellence Dark 70% bar; NHS lunchtime guidance also lists chocolate among foods to swap when reducing sugar.
Use the cocoa figure to identify the product you want, then read the nutrition panel and decide how much to eat alongside lunch.
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Picking a milk-chocolate bar for a dark-chocolate preference
Standard Snickers is a milk-chocolate bar with peanuts, caramel and nougat, not a high-cocoa dark bar. SNICKERS lists 20g sugars for its 40g bar.
If cocoa content is your deciding factor, check the exact product’s description and stated percentage before switching formats.
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Assuming one variant’s allergen details apply to another
Warnings differ between products: Lindt Shop UK says its Excellence Dark 70% bar may contain nuts, milk, soya and sesame, while SNICKERS lists peanuts, milk and egg white as ingredients in its standard 40g bar.
Read the current ingredients and allergen statement on the exact bar before eating it, particularly when trying a different flavour.
Relevant brand references
These named products illustrate different label checks; a brand name alone does not establish the cocoa content or allergen details of every variant.
Lindt
Lindt Shop UK states that Excellence Dark 70% contains at least 70% cocoa solids and is sold as a 100g bar.
- Its product page gives per-100g nutrition and an allergen warning for this variant.
- The 100g bar needs portion planning if you intend to carry less; the page says it may contain nuts, milk, soya and sesame.
Galaxy
Galaxy identifies its Fusions Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa as a 70%-cocoa option.
- The stated percentage lets you identify its declared cocoa content.
- Check the exact pack for its size, nutrition and allergen statement before choosing it for lunch on the go.
Cadbury
Cadbury describes Bournville Classic as a 100g dark chocolate bar.
- The product is clearly identified as dark chocolate.
- If you require a particular cocoa percentage, check the current pack rather than inferring one from ‘dark’.
Snickers
The standard SNICKERS 40g bar is a milk-chocolate option, not a dark-chocolate alternative.
- Its product information gives a single-bar size and nutrition figures.
- It contains peanuts, milk and egg white and may contain other nuts; it does not meet a dark-chocolate preference.
Dark chocolate options on Joybuy
These are 90g and 100g dark chocolate bars with stated cocoa percentages. If you want to carry just part of one with lunch, check its pack format and plan your portion.
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Morrisons The Best 85% Cocoa Ecuador Dark Chocolate 100g
A stated 85% cocoa content makes this an option if you want a declared percentage. The listing gives nutrition per 100g and per 20g portion; check how you will carry a portion of the 100g bar. It says the product may contain cereals containing gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts, so read the current pack’s allergen statement.
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Morrisons The Best 72% Cocoa Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 100g
This bar states 72% cocoa and gives nutrition per 100g and per 20g portion, with five stated portions in the 100g bar. Check the pack format if you intend to carry one portion. The listing says it contains soya and may contain cereals containing gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts; confirm the current allergen statement.
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Green & Black's Dark Chocolate 85% 90g
The stated 85% cocoa content and nutrition figures per 100g and per 18g, or two rows, let you compare a planned portion. This is a 90g bar; check its packaging if you need to carry less. The listing says it may contain cereals containing gluten, milk and nuts, so check the current pack.
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Green & Black's Dark Chocolate 70% 90g
If you are looking for a stated 70%-cocoa bar, this 90g option gives nutrition per 100g and per 18g, or two rows. Check the pack format before relying on that portion for carrying it separately. The listing says it may contain almonds, hazelnuts and milk; read the current allergen statement.
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Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate 100g
This 100g bar states 85% cocoa and provides nutrition per 100g. Decide how much you intend to carry and eat, and check the pack format if a separate portion matters. The listing names nuts, milk, soya and sesame seeds in its allergen information; confirm the statement on the current pack.
Questions about choosing a bar
Does ‘dark chocolate’ always tell me the cocoa percentage?
No. If a particular percentage matters, look for it on the exact product. Lindt Shop UK states 70% for Excellence Dark 70%, and Galaxy states 70% for Fusions Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa; Cadbury’s Bournville Classic product page calls it dark chocolate without specifying a percentage.
Can I use a dark chocolate bar in place of lunch?
Treat it as a sweet item alongside lunch, not as lunch itself. NHS lunchtime guidance lists chocolate among foods to swap when reducing sugar; if you take a bar with you, consider the portion you intend to eat as well as what else you are having.
Which nutrition figures should I compare?
Compare energy, sugars and saturates per 100g first, then check the figures for the amount you expect to eat. UK government guidance explains that front-of-pack traffic-light labels can show fat, saturates, sugars and salt alongside energy figures; cocoa percentage does not replace those checks.
Is dark chocolate automatically free from milk or nuts?
No. Lindt Shop UK says its Excellence Dark 70% bar may contain nuts and milk, as well as soya and sesame. Read the current ingredient list and allergen warning for the exact bar, especially when changing variants.