Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares (Raspberry Dark) — DUMP

Name: Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares (Raspberry Dark)
Brand: Ghirardelli

Munch or Dump rates Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares (Raspberry Dark) by Ghirardelli DUMP — score 17/90.

Premium-looking 'real raspberry' chocolate built on three sweeteners, palm oil, and the synthetic preservative TBHQ. Sugar is the very first ingredient, ahead of any cocoa.

Why this verdict

Sugar is the #1 ingredient, ahead of any cocoa
Three sweetener sources: sugar + high fructose corn syrup + corn syrup
Contains TBHQ, a synthetic petroleum-derived preservative
Palm oil and milk fat stack the saturated fat
'Raspberry' is powder plus fruit/veg juice for color, not real fruit

Ingredients (15)

Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
unsweetened chocolate++ (safe) — Real cocoa solids for flavor.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (caution) — The dominant sweetener and second ingredient; drives the sugar load.
Cocoa Butter (safe) — The natural fat of the cacao bean.
Palm Oil (moderate) — Saturated-fat-heavy oil used in the crust.
MILK FAT (safe) — Dairy fat that softens the chocolate.
Freeze-dried raspberry powder (safe) — Real fruit, but a tiny amount used mainly for flavor, not nutrition.
Corn Syrup (caution) — Added sugar baked into the crust.
Soy Lecithin (safe) — Common emulsifier, generally benign in these amounts.
fruit and vegetable juice (safe) — Used as a coloring agent rather than for any nutritional value.
Potassium Sorbate (moderate) — Preservative for shelf life.
citric acid (safe) — Acidity and tartness adjuster.
TBHQ (caution) — Synthetic antioxidant preservative; flagged for concern at higher intakes.
gelatin (moderate) — Animal-derived binder for the frosting; makes the product non-vegetarian.
vanilla (safe) — Standard chocolate flavoring.