Ghirardelli Chocolate

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark 92% Cacao Dark Chocolate is positioned at the lower end of our cleaner food options spectrum. This product is not organic, nor does it use non-GMO ingredients, which significantly impacts its score on our scale. The presence of added sugars further detracts from its overall rating.

The ingredient list reveals the inclusion of unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, and vanilla extract, which are less contentious components. However, cane sugar and milk fat contribute to the added sugar content, which our assessment penalizes. Moreover, the product contains soy lecithin and unspecified natural flavors. These ingredients, especially the latter, are often regarded with caution due to their potential as harmful additives.

Our scoring system is stringent with products that contain elements we identify as detrimental to health or the environment. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark 92% Cacao Dark Chocolate falls short of our standards primarily because it lacks organic certification and includes genetically modified ingredients. The added sugars, particularly cane sugar, and the presence of potentially harmful additives further reduce its standing.

Consumers seeking cleaner food options might consider alternative products with higher green leaf ratings that align more closely with their health and environmental values. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark 92% Cacao Dark Chocolate, while possessing a high percentage of cacao, is not recommended based on our criteria. Our assessment aims to guide customers towards purer, more natural food choices, and this chocolate does not meet the criteria that would allow it to be endorsed by our website.