Supermarket Chocolate Test Lecture

Jul 15, 2024

Supermarket Chocolate Test Lecture

Introduction

  • Goal: Test 10 supermarket chocolates to evaluate their health benefits and risks.
  • Key Points
    • Dark chocolate benefits: cognitive function, heart health, and more.
    • Key ingredient: flavanol.
    • Risks: high heavy metal content can cause serious health issues (cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, low sperm count).

Scoring Methodology

  • Ratio of good stuff (flavanols) to bad stuff (heavy metals).
  • Higher score means a better chocolate in terms of health benefits and lower risks.
  • Good stuff: Flavanols
  • Bad stuff: Heavy metals

Chocolate Contestants

Contestant 1: Mint Chocolate

  • 70% cocoa, excellent flavor.
  • Flavanols: 175 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 4.5 micrograms
  • Score: 39

Contestant 2: Beyond Good Pure Dark Madagascar

  • 70% Cocoa, 100% traceable.
  • Benefits: Protects species of plants and animals.
  • Flavanols: 84 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 4.6 micrograms
  • Score: 18

Contestant 3: Tony’s Chocolonely

  • 70% dark chocolate with golden wrapper.
  • Flavanols: 218 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 5.9 micrograms
  • Score: 37

Contestant 4: Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts

  • 100% certified cocoa sourcing.
  • Flavanols: 132 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 2.3 micrograms
  • Score: 57

Contestant 5: Alter Eco Total Blackout

  • 100% cocoa.
  • Clean label: pure cocoa beans, organic cocoa butter.
  • Flavanols: 211 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 14.7 micrograms
  • Score: 14

Contestant 6: Theo Fair Trade Extra Dark

  • 85% dark chocolate.
  • Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, ground vanilla bean.
  • Flavanols: 164 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 11 micrograms
  • Score: 15

Contestant 7: Lily’s Extra Dark Chocolate

  • 70% cocoa, Stevia sweetened.
  • Flavanols: 170 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 4.9 micrograms
  • Score: 39 (Tie with Mint Chocolate)

Contestant 8: Vog Exotic Chocolate Bar

  • 70% cocoa.
  • Special tasting ritual: Breathe, close eyes, smell, bite, hear, and taste.
  • Flavanols: 159 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 2 micrograms
  • Score: 78 (Highest so far)

Contestant 9: Hu Simple Dark Chocolate

  • 70% cocoa, vegan, paleo.
  • Mission: Revolutionize and clean the food industry.
  • Flavanols: 261 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 5.4 micrograms
  • Score: 48

Contestant 10: Unnamed Chocolate

  • Same brand as the one in last place.
  • Flavanols: 141 mg
  • Heavy Metals: 10.6 micrograms
  • Score: 13 (Lowest)

Key Takeaways

  1. Marketing and Packaging are Misleading
    • Pretty pictures and promises don’t reflect actual quality or health benefits.
  2. Importance of Knowing What You’re Eating
    • Transparency in the food supply chain is essential for making healthier choices.

Final Note

  • Blueprint Cocoa as a comparative product:

    • Flavanols: 537 mg
    • Heavy Metals: 2.9 micrograms
    • Hypothetical Score: 180 (top performer)

  • Aim for quantified and clean food choices for better health.

  • This test is not to shame companies but to call for better transparency in food production.

Conclusion

  • Transparency in food supply benefits everyone.
  • Strive for a “don’t die” economy to improve public health.