Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic 57% Cacao Dark Chocolate (100/100)
The recorded US ingredient statement lists artificial preservatives and corn syrups (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Confirm the exact formula on your package.
Label checked 2026-10-16. USDA FoodData Central · How we verify labels and scores
Label review by CleanFoodScore Research Team.
Label on your package different? Tell us.
How scoring works
The clean score reads only the ingredient label. Up to 60 points come from the 9 additive groups we check: each group not on the label earns its share, and a group named only in a "may contain" note earns half. Up to 25 points come from an organic claim we have confirmed. Points that do not apply to this kind of food are left out and the rest is scaled to 100.
This product: 7 of 9 groups not on the label. No confirmed organic claim.
It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
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Your ingredient check
0 of your 4 avoided groups are listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 2.
Additive Check Details
This checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel
Label checked2026-10-16 · US
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Copied word for word from the labelUSDA FoodData Central
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Higher-scoring picks on this shelf
365 by Whole Foods MarketOrganic 57% Cacao Dark Chocolate
Alter EcoClassic Organic Dark ChocolateLabel data source
Ingredients and nutrition come from USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods (FDC ID 2627728, data date 2023-08-31, release 2026-04-30). These are brand-submitted label records in the public domain (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-16. Check the package for the current label.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per serving (38 g, 3 SECTIONS) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 500 kcal | 190 kcal |
| Total fat | 26.3 g | 10 g |
| Saturated fat | 15.8 g | 6 g |
| Sodium | 145 mg | 55 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 60.5 g | 23 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.6 g | 1 g |
| Total sugars | 55.3 g | 21 g |
| Added sugars | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 5.3 g | 2 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 57.9 g | 22 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose this chocolate
The recorded ingredient label lists 17 ingredients, led by sugar, whole milk powder and cocoa butter. Worth noting: it lists added sweeteners (sugar and corn syrup), natural flavors, artificial preservatives and corn syrups. For this chocolate, the comparison that matters most is style and cacao percentage: match eating or baking chocolate to the taste and use you want.
- Worth checkingLong ingredient list: 17 ingredients, so read the full statement.
- Worth checkingLists artificial preservatives (potassium sorbate and citric acid and tbhq - as preservatives).
- Worth checkingLists corn syrups (corn syrup).
- Worth checkingLists added sweeteners: sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk (first appears at position 1 of 17).
- Good to knowUses non-sugar sweeteners: sorbitol.
- Worth checkingLists natural flavors; the specific flavoring ingredients are not disclosed.
- Good to knowOil named on the label: palm oil.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk and soy. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
You may prefer another option if…
- You avoid artificial preservatives: the recorded label lists potassium sorbate and citric acid and tbhq - as preservatives.
- You avoid corn syrups: the recorded label lists corn syrup.
- You are limiting added sugars: it lists sugar and corn syrup.
- You avoid non-sugar sweeteners: it uses sorbitol.
Compare this against other chocolate
- Style and cacao percentage. Match eating or baking chocolate to the taste and use you want.
- Sweetener and portion. Compare sugar and sweeteners at the same serving weight.
- Fillings and allergens. Check the bar and its inclusions, including milk, nuts and soy.
Keep reading
- Artificial Preservatives on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Corn Syrups on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Compare every label we have recorded on the chocolate shelf
- Browse the chocolate shelf
References
- Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2627728) USDA FoodData Central
- Lead and cadmium could be in your dark chocolate Consumer Reports
- Dark chocolate Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Fair Trade standards Fairtrade America
These notes summarize the linked ingredient record and public references. Records may come from manufacturer pages or USDA FoodData Central brand-submitted labels. They are not medical advice or a nutrition, allergy or safety rating, and the maker’s claims are not independently verified here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel contain seed oils?
No listed matches for seed oils were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
Does Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel contain artificial dyes or MSG?
No listed matches for artificial dyes or MSG were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
What is the verification standard for this product?
The complete ingredient statement was recorded from the linked product-specific source on 2026-10-16. Evidence expires after 90 days and requires a new source review; viewing this page does not renew it.
What are the ingredients in Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: SUGAR, WHOLE MILK POWDER, COCOA BUTTER, CORN SYRUP, SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK (PASTEURIZED MILK, SUGAR), UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, PALM OIL, WATER, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, DISODIUM PHOSPATE, SALT, SOY LECITHIN - AN EMULSIFIER, SORBITOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, VANILLA, CITRIC ACID AND TBHQ - AS PRESERVATIVES.
Is Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel healthy?
Its recorded label lists artificial preservatives and corn syrups (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Its clean score is 55 out of 100. That is a label check, not a nutrition rating: sugar, sodium, calories and portion size are separate questions.
Same shelf. Different labels.
What else could go in your basket?
See the full table: Chocolate ranked by clean scoreChocolate options · US labels. Sorted by clean score, the same label-based score as the shelf ranking table; each card names the additive groups its label lists out of the 9 we check. Neither is a nutrition or quality rating. Different formats and flavors can have different recipes.
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Prices are dated observations for the stated package, exclude tax and shipping, and expire after 30 days. Ingredient evidence expires after 90 days. Unknown evidence is never ranked as fewer matches.
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