People cutting back on added sugar
A no-added-sugar chocolate-style bar may fit this aim, but its sugars per serving, energy, saturated fat and sweeteners still matter when choosing a late-night portion.
Who is choosing?
People requiring a sugar-free claim
Check the claim and nutrition table on the exact product. The sugar-free claim threshold published on legislation.gov.uk is no more than 0.5g sugars per 100g of food; “no added sugar” does not mean the same thing.
People checking polyols or carbohydrates
Compare the serving size and ingredients rather than relying on the front label. Diabetes UK notes that polyols contain carbohydrate and calories, while East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust warns that large amounts can cause digestive symptoms.
What should you compare?
A strictly sugar-free bar
Choose when: The sugar-free claim itself is your requirement, and the exact pack’s sugars figure meets the published threshold of no more than 0.5g per 100g.
Bear in mind: That claim alone says nothing about the bar’s energy, saturated fat, sweeteners or allergens.
A no-added-sugar bar
Choose when: Avoiding added sugar matters more to you than meeting the stricter sugar-free threshold.
Bear in mind: It can still contain sugars and polyols; N!CK’S UK lists 3.1g sugars and 4.1g polyols per 25g Milk Chocolate bar.
A smaller conventional portion
Choose when: Portion size matters more than avoiding added sugar.
Bear in mind: A smaller portion does not make conventional chocolate sugar-free; check the sugars on the exact pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim, then compare sugars per 100g and per serving. The sugar-free claim threshold published on legislation.gov.uk is no more than 0.5g per 100g of food. | I need to know whether the bar is strictly sugar-free or simply labelled no added sugar. |
| Sweeteners | Check the ingredient list for polyols and the amount per bar if stated. Consider the serving size as well as the ingredient. | If polyols cause me discomfort, I want to know what is in one late-night serving. |
| Portion | Compare serving weight, energy, sugars and saturated fat on the same per-bar basis. Check protein only if that feature matters to your choice. | Am I choosing a small sweet portion or a larger protein bar? |
| Ingredients | Read the complete ingredients, highlighted allergens and any “may contain” statement for the exact flavour and pack. | My choice has to fit any ingredient or allergen restrictions that apply to me. |
Common mistakes
Treating “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
N!CK’S UK lists 3.1g sugars per 25g in its no-added-sugar Milk Chocolate bar, illustrating why the claims cannot be used interchangeably.
For a strict sugar-free requirement, check the claim and sugars per 100g against the threshold published on legislation.gov.uk.
Ignoring the size of the bar
A no-added-sugar label does not tell you the energy or saturated fat in the portion you will eat.
Compare the figures per bar before deciding between a small chocolate portion and a larger snack.
Overlooking polyols
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust says large amounts of polyols can cause bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea.
Check the sweeteners and serving size, particularly if you already know polyols cause you symptoms.
Relying on a brand name for allergen information
Ingredients and precautionary allergen statements can differ between a brand’s chocolate, wafer and protein-bar products.
Read the information for the exact flavour and pack you intend to buy.
Relevant brand references
N!CK’S
N!CK’S UK publishes specifications for several no-added-sugar chocolate-style bars, including milk chocolate, coconut and a caramel chocolate protein bar.
- Its Milk Chocolate listing gives 112 kcal, 3.1g sugars and 4.1g polyols per 25g bar.
- Those no-added-sugar specifications do not establish that the bars meet the stricter sugar-free threshold. Check sweeteners and allergens by variant.
Diablo
Holland & Barrett lists both a Diablo No Added Sugar 80% Dark Chocolate Bar 75g and a Diablo Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Bar 85g.
- The listings distinguish no-added-sugar and sugar-free product names.
- Check the claim, sugars per 100g, sweeteners and allergens on the particular pack rather than transferring details between the two bars.
Cadbury
Cadbury UK presents an under-100-calorie chocolate range for shoppers considering a smaller conventional portion.
- The range is framed around calories per bar rather than a sugar-free claim.
- Check sugars and ingredients on the exact product if a sugar-related requirement matters to you.
Joybuy product options
These Grenade multipacks are chocolate-style protein-bar options for a more substantial late-night snack. Check each exact pack’s sugar claim, nutrition and ingredients if you need a strictly sugar-free or no-added-sugar product.
No image availableGrenade White Oreo Protein Bars, 12 x 60g
A chocolate-style protein-bar option if you want a 60g serving rather than a small chocolate portion. Check sugars per 100g, sweeteners and allergens on the exact pack before choosing it for a sugar-related requirement.
No image availableGrenade Jaffa Quake Protein Bars, 12 x 60g
A chocolate-and-orange protein-bar option in 60g servings. Compare its per-bar nutrition and read the sweetener and allergen information on the exact pack before choosing a late-night portion.
No image availableGrenade White Chocolate Salted Peanut Flavour Protein Bars, 12 x 60g
A peanut-flavoured protein-bar option in 60g servings. Check the exact pack’s peanut and other allergen information, alongside sugars and sweeteners, before choosing it.
Questions about labels and ingredients
Does “no added sugar” mean a chocolate bar is sugar-free?
No. N!CK’S UK lists 3.1g sugars per 25g in its no-added-sugar Milk Chocolate bar. The sugar-free claim threshold published on legislation.gov.uk is no more than 0.5g sugars per 100g of food, so check both the claim and the nutrition table.
Do sweeteners make a chocolate bar equivalent to an unsweetened food?
No. The NHS notes that using lower- or no-calorie sweeteners does not necessarily change a food’s overall nutritional profile. Compare the complete ingredients and nutrition information for the portion you intend to eat.
Can a no-added-sugar bar cause digestive discomfort?
A polyol-containing bar may be a concern if you are sensitive to polyols. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust says large amounts can cause bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea; N!CK’S UK lists 14g polyols per 40g Coconut bar. Check the ingredients and serving size.
Is a no-added-sugar chocolate bar automatically suitable when managing diabetes?
No. Diabetes UK explains that polyols still contain carbohydrate and calories, although they can have less effect on blood glucose than sucrose. Consider the exact bar’s carbohydrate information and serving size, and seek individual advice from your healthcare team where needed.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Read the complete ingredients, highlighted allergens and any precautionary statement on the exact flavour and pack. Formulations can differ even within one brand: N!CK’S UK lists different ingredient and trace-warning information across its chocolate-bar variants.