
Hersheys
Flavor:
SPECIAL DARK Mildly Sweet Chocolate Candy
Ingredients:
Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Milk)
Rating: Not Clean
- 2 out of 5
Ingredient Score:

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, the Hershey’s SPECIAL DARK Mildly Sweet Chocolate Candy falls short of meeting the standards for cleaner food options. This product is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients, which significantly impacts its green leaf rating. Additionally, it includes added sugars and potentially harmful additives, which further detracts from its score.
The ingredients list reveals the presence of sugar, which is a source of added sugars, and natural flavor, which is considered a potentially harmful additive. The inclusion of cocoa processed with alkali, also known as Dutch processing, alters the chocolate’s natural acidity and could potentially reduce its antioxidant properties.
The product’s lack of organic certification means that the ingredients may have been grown with the use of pesticides or other chemicals that can be harmful to both consumers and the environment. Moreover, without verification of non-GMO ingredients, there is a possibility that genetic modifications, which some consumers aim to avoid, might be present in the ingredients.
The Hershey’s SPECIAL DARK Mildly Sweet Chocolate Candy also contains milk fat and lecithin, which are common ingredients in chocolate products. However, the absence of organic or non-GMO verification for these ingredients contributes to the overall lower rating. The use of the term ‘natural flavor’ is particularly concerning since it is a broad term that does not specify the exact substances used and is often associated with a variety of undisclosed chemical compounds.
The product does not stand out as a healthier or cleaner option in the market. To improve its standing, Hershey’s could reformulate the chocolate to include organic and non-GMO ingredients, eliminate added sugars, and provide greater transparency about the natural flavors used. Consumers searching for cleaner food products are likely to find this chocolate candy lacking in comparison to products that adhere to stricter health and environmental standards.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
Alternatives
No Items found.
How We Rate
Every company today has a responsibility to be a net positive for the planet,
for society, and for our ecosystem