Health apps such as Yuka are quietly influencing the way people choose everyday foods. Even familiar products like chocolate spreads are starting to look different on store shelves. New jars now promise fewer additives, reduced sugar, and more natural ingredients while still delivering that comforting spoonful people enjoy on cold mornings or relaxed afternoons.
The Growing Trend of Cleaner Chocolate Spreads
Traditional hazelnut spreads often contain large amounts of sugar, inexpensive vegetable oils, and long lists of additives. While they taste rich and sweet, they are closer to dessert than a simple breakfast option.
Apps like Yuka, which was developed in France, evaluate food based on nutrition quality, additives, and environmental impact. Because of these ratings, some brands have begun reformulating their products to earn better scores.
These newer spreads are still treats, but they try to offer improved ingredient quality. Many keep the classic cocoa and hazelnut taste while reducing controversial ingredients that often appear in standard supermarket versions.
Et Toc The Perfect Score Spread
Et Toc, produced in northern France, receives a rare score of 100 out of 100 on the Yuka app. The spread is organic and contains a relatively short and clear ingredient list.
Every 100 grams provides about 8.7 grams of protein and 8.2 grams of fibre. This fibre supports digestion and slows how quickly fats and sugars are absorbed by the body. Most of the fat content comes naturally from nuts rather than refined oils.
The flavor relies on roasted hazelnuts and organic cocoa, without palm oil or artificial additives. Its texture is thicker and more rustic than many industrial spreads, resembling a handmade nut paste.
Although the sugar content remains around 35 grams per 100 grams, the overall ingredient profile is considered better balanced. In France, a 220 g jar sells for about €3.85, placing it in the mid-range price category.
Nutripure The Oil Free Alternative
Nutripure takes a completely different approach and scores 94 out of 100 on Yuka. This organic spread introduces an unusual ingredient into the recipe: red beans.
Using beans may sound unexpected for a chocolate spread, but they create a creamy texture while naturally providing fibre and protein. This allows the brand to avoid palm oil and other refined fats.
The taste combines hazelnut and vanilla, and the texture is light and airy, almost like mousse. The spread contains minimal saturated fat and avoids artificial sweeteners, focusing instead on simple whole-food ingredients.
Red beans and other legumes are gradually becoming useful ingredients in sweet recipes because they can replace some fats without affecting taste.
Because it targets a niche health-conscious audience, Nutripure is more expensive. A 220 g jar usually costs about €5.99.
Funky Veggie The Plant Based Choice
Funky Veggie is designed for consumers who want a completely plant-based and minimally processed spread. On Yuka it receives a score of 79 out of 100, which still places it in the “good choice” category.
The formula excludes gluten and animal-derived ingredients. Roasted hazelnuts, red beans, and unrefined beet sugar give the spread structure and sweetness.
The use of unrefined beet sugar allows some natural minerals to remain, though the product is still a sweet indulgence rather than a health food.
Funky Veggie is packaged in 200 g jars and typically costs around €3.99, making it one of the more affordable alternatives in this category.
Baouw The High Protein Athlete Spread
Baouw targets a very different market: athletes and active individuals who want snacks that contain more protein and provide longer-lasting energy. It also earns a Yuka score of 79 out of 100.
This spread contains approximately 18% plant protein and a high nut content, with hazelnuts and cashews making up around 70% of the recipe.
Carbohydrates remain lower than most conventional spreads at about 25 grams per 100 grams. Because of the nut content and protein level, Baouw functions almost like a compact sports snack.
The product is gluten-free and dairy-free and is manufactured in France. However, the premium positioning means a 200 g jar costs about €7.50.
Dukanella The Lower Sugar Option
Dukanella focuses on people who are monitoring their weight, blood sugar levels, or cholesterol intake. It receives a Nutri-Score rating of A and a Yuka score of 78 out of 100.
The recipe contains less sugar and additional fibre compared with many competing chocolate spreads.
There is no added sugar and no palm oil, and the ingredients are chosen to keep the glycaemic index relatively low. This helps reduce rapid blood sugar spikes after consumption.
Even though it still contains about 404 kcal per 100 grams, it is considered lighter than many traditional spreads. A 220 g jar costs around €5.28 in French supermarkets.
How To Identify Better Chocolate Spreads In Stores
Even if these specific brands are not available in your country, the principles behind their higher scores can help you make better choices in any grocery store.
Start by checking the ingredient list and nutrition label carefully.
Avoid spreads that contain palm oil when possible, since it increases saturated fat intake and has environmental concerns linked to its production.
Try to choose products where sugar content stays below about 30 grams per 100 grams.
Look for shorter ingredient lists that include recognizable components such as hazelnuts, cocoa, sugar, and possibly milk or plant-based alternatives.
Labels such as organic, vegan, or clearly labelled country of origin can also suggest stricter sourcing and transparency.
If sugar appears as the first ingredient on the label instead of nuts, the product is closer to a dessert cream than a true nut spread.
Understanding What Yuka Scores Represent
The Yuka app calculates a combined rating that considers nutritional value, additives, and environmental impact. A higher score does not mean the product should be eaten daily, but it indicates fewer controversial additives and a more balanced nutritional profile.
For spreads, three main values strongly influence the score: sugar content, saturated fat levels, and fibre per 100 grams.
Higher fibre and lower saturated fat improve the rating, while long lists of additives usually reduce it.
Smart Ways To Enjoy Chocolate Spreads
Even spreads with cleaner ingredient lists should still be eaten in moderation. Two tablespoons can easily provide between 150 and 200 calories, particularly when the product is nut-based.
Rather than making spreads an everyday staple, many people treat them as an occasional indulgence.
Another strategy is to use them as a topping instead of the main ingredient. For example, spreading a thin layer on whole grain toast or adding a small spoonful to fruit and yogurt can create a more balanced snack.
| Use | What changes nutrition |
|---|---|
| Thick layer on white bread | High sugar load, little fibre, fast energy spike |
| Thin layer on wholegrain toast | More fibre, slower digestion, longer satiety |
| Spoonful with fruit and yoghurt | Added protein and fibre, still sweet but more balanced |
Why Glycaemic Index And Fibre Matter
Many modern spreads highlight phrases such as “low glycaemic index” or “higher fibre.” The glycaemic index measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels.
Foods with lower glycaemic values cause a slower and steadier rise in blood sugar.
Fibre plays an important role in this process because it slows digestion. When spreads contain whole nuts, legumes, and less refined sugar, they often create a more gradual blood sugar response compared with products made mostly from refined sugar and fat.
