Sugar reduction claims: how do they work?

Dark sugarfree chocolate tablet with praline filling

Sugar reduction claims: how do they work?

Finding it hard to navigate across the various sugar reduction claims and strategies? We summarized the key things you need to know so you can pick the best strategy for your chocolate products.

What are the different sugar reduction strategies in chocolate?

1 - Reduce sugar without claim

The first question to ask yourself is whether you want to make a sugar reduction claim on pack or not. If that’s not the case, you have 2 options:

Gradually reduce sugar
Reduce sugar up to 30% (30% is the threshold at which a claim can be made)

In both cases, Barry Callebaut experts can support you by helping you reformulating your chocolate recipe.

Get in touch with Barry Callebaut experts

2 - Sugar reduction claim

In order to make the claim “Sugars reduced”, added sugars in your overall product need to be reduced by at least 30%.

Be careful: the benchmark not your current product. The benchmark is against a range of reference of products on the market that are not reduced in sugars.

At Barry Callebaut, we selected the most suitable fibers for a balanced taste profile, good workability and digestive tolerance.

Discover our NEW 1% added sugar chocolates

3 - No added sugar

Removing sugars on the ingredient list? Not adding any sugar to the chocolate recipe? That’s the “without added sugar” option.

If polyols (such as maltitol, erythritol, …) are used in your product recipe, there is a risk of laxative warning on pack. In order to avoid it, the overall polyol content of your product should stay below 10%.
If fibers are used (such as chicory root fiber) or polyols are below 10% in the recipe, there is no laxative warning.

Discover our new clean label Without added sugar

Rice wafers coated in no added sugar chocolate

4 - Sugar-free

The “sugar-free” claim means completely removing sugars from the nutritional table: no more than 0,5% sugars can be in the final product. This type of chocolate is particularly suitable for diabetics but come with a laxative warning.

We use a combination of maltitol and sweeteners such as stevia to replace sugars, and we remove lactose from our milk powder, so no sugars are left in the nutritional.

Want to know more about our range? Read more here

Keep reading about sugar reduction

Sugar reduced chocolate

Milk chocolate with dairy protein and without added sugar

Milk chocolate without added sugars based on whey protein. Its delicious taste, high cocoa content and dairy-based protein make this chocolate the perfect ingredient for your wholesome creations.

range
Chocolate
Cocoa intensity

1
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

46%

Sugar Reduced Swiss Chocolate Powder 26% Fat

Sugar Reduced Swiss made chocolate powder with 26% fat. This chocolate powder has an unmet purity due to the use of Swiss sugar, no added flavors and no added lecithin.

range
Chocolate

Dark Protein chocolate without added sugar

Dark chocolate without added sugar based on whey protein. Its delicious taste, high cocoa content, and dairy-based protein make this chocolate the perfect ingredient for your wholesome creations.

range
Chocolate
Cocoa intensity

2
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

77.3%

Dark chocolate chips M without added sugar

Without added sugar medium dark chocolate chips with maltitol as a sugar replacer. They are non-vibrated, for non-added sugar oriented baking and cereal applications. Bake stable thanks to the low fat content.

range
Chips & Chunks
Shape

chips
Size

10500 pcs/kg
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

48%

Dark chocolate chips M without added sugar

range
Chips & Chunks
Shape

chips
Size

7500 pcs/kg
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

48%

20/22 MR with sugar

Brown chocolate powder with an intense round chocolaty flavor and a long lasting taste. Low in sugar (only 3%) and allergen free. Possibility to use the claim «Chocolate powder».