Dark Chocolate Blueberries — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Dark Chocolate Blueberries by Round's Select ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

Sugar-coated candy wearing a superfood costume. Sugar is the #1 ingredient and the blueberries are sweetened too, with refined oil, an emulsifier, and a shellac glaze rounding it out.

Why this verdict

• Sugar is the #1 ingredient in the chocolate, and the blueberries are sweetened on top of that
• Two added-sugar sources plus refined sunflower oil and an emulsifier
• 27g carbs and 8g fat per serving — sugar-and-fat dense
• Confectioner's glaze (shellac) and alkali-processed cocoa are processing markers, not whole-food signs

Ingredients (11)

• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Chocolate liquor (cocoa mass) (safe) — Real cocoa — source of flavanols and the only genuinely beneficial part.
• Cocoa Butter (safe) — The natural fat of the cacao bean.
• Chocolate liquor processed with alkali (Dutched cocoa) (moderate) — Alkalizing smooths flavor but strips much of the antioxidant flavanols you'd buy dark chocolate for.
• SOY LECITHIN EMULSIFIER (moderate) — Emulsifier that keeps the oil and solids from separating. Common and low-risk, but a sign of engineering.
• Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
• vanilla (safe) — Standard chocolate flavoring.
• Wild blueberries (safe) — Whole lowbush berries, frozen. High in fiber and anthocyanins. No added sugar or processing beyond freezing.
• Sugar (in blueberries) (concerning) — A second added-sugar source coating the fruit, so even the 'real fruit' is candied.
• Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined seed oil; fine in the modest amounts used here.
• Confectioners glaze (shellac) (moderate) — Insect-derived polish for the candy shell.