Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate nutrition

One mug (11g powder)Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)1 allergen NPM Score (2018): 19, higher is less healthy

Figures from Morrisons product page, collected by Boone. Free sugar calculated by Boone. Last checked 26 October 2026. Data checks are led by Murray Dare.

Figures are for the powder as sold, before milk or water is added.

Traffic lights, per one mug (11g powder)Colours from FSA guidance, per 100gHow

Energy38 kcal2% of RI1,460 kJ, 349 kcal per 100g

Fat1gMedium1% of RI9.1g per 100g

Saturates0.7gHigh3% of RI6g per 100g

Sugars2.8gHigh3% of RI25g per 100g

Salt0.24gHigh4% of RI2.2g per 100g

Colours use the Food Standards Agency front-of-pack thresholds per 100g. RI is the adult reference intake.

How much

Who is eating

38kcal3% of the day

Where the calories come from

18%40%23%

ProteinCarbsFat

!Nothing here is high for this age: the biggest share is free sugar, at 14% of their daily limit in one mug (11g powder).

CaloriesEnergy38 kcal3%

Reference 1,291 kcal

Free sugarWithin limit2.8g14%

Limit 19g free sugar (NHS)

Saturated fatWithin limit0.7g5%

Guide 14g: Boone estimate, 10% of energy. No NHS limit at this age

SaltWithin limit0.24g8%

Limit 3g (NHS)

FibreTarget3.2g21%

Target 15g

ProteinTarget1.8g

No set target for this age

One mug (11g powder) of Highlights Hot Chocolate. Figures from the retailer’s pack panel; portion figures calculated by Boone. How

Spotted something wrong? Report an errorWe check every report against the source and log what we change.

Sugar: free vs total

Free sugar calculated from the ingredientsHow

Total sugar2.8gin one mug (11g powder), from the label

Free sugar2.8gCalculated by Boone. 0.7 teaspoons

0.7 teaspoons of free sugar in one mug (11g powder)One teaspoon is 4g.

2.8g free sugar from glucose syrup, sugar

Sugar in milk and whole or dried fruit is not free sugar. NHS →

2.8g as a share of the NHS daily maximum

The NHS free sugar limit is 19g a day at age 4 to 6, 24g at 7 to 10 and 30g from 11. There is no limit for under 4s: they should avoid free sugar.

Against other Cadbury drinks

#2 of 4 Cadbury drinks for least free sugar per portion.

Sorted by free sugar per portionHow

Bournville Cocoa 4g portion, 17 kcal0g Highlights Hot Chocolate 11g portion, 38 kcal2.8g Drinking Chocolate 18g portion, 73 kcal13.1g Instant Hot Chocolate 28g portion, 111 kcal17.1g

Swaps with less sugarLess sugar from CadburyCadbury Bournville Cocoa →0g free sugar per portion, 2.8g less. 17 kcal.More from Cadbury

Every Cadbury product →Sort by sugar, salt or calories

Nutrient profile score

Calculated by BooneHow 2018 guidance on GOV.UK →

1929 negative points
− 10 positive points

The 2018 model indicates this portion is less healthy: it scores 19, at or above the line of 4.

← HealthierLess healthy →

19-20 best possible4 and above: less healthy40 worst possible

Higher is less healthy; 4 or more would be classed as less healthy under this model. How the score works →

#4 of 4 Cadbury drinks for this score (lower is better).

Per 100g, as sold. Portion size is not counted.

Score breakdown: +29 negative, −10 positive+

Negative points+29

Energy 1,460 kJ per 100g+4 of 10

Saturated fat 6g per 100g+6 of 10

Free sugars 25g per 100g+10 of 10

Calculated by Boone from the ingredient list

Salt 2.2g per 100g+9 of 10

Positive points−10

Fibre 29g per 100g−10 of 10

Fruit, veg, nuts and seeds counted as 00 of 5

No fruit, vegetables, nuts or seeds with a stated weight

Protein 16g per 100g−5 of 5

Not counted, see below

Protein not counted. With 29 negative points, its 5 protein points are not counted. Why →

Final score: 29 − 1019

What is in it

24 ingredients; 9 are additives or industrial ingredients (orange).

15 basic, 9 orange

Ingredients24 ingredients, 9 orange

34 %whey powdersoluble maize fibreskimmed MILK powderinulin3.5 %) (MILKsugarcocoa masscocoa butterpalmsheaE442flavouringsglucose syruppalm oilsaltE551E407potassium carbonatesMILK proteinflavouringE950sucraloseE471

No added vitamins or minerals

The ingredient list does not include any fortification.

How processed is it?

NOVA group 4

1 Unprocessed

2 Ingredients

3 Processed

4 Ultra-processed

Group 4 because the ingredient list includes the industrial ingredients below. Added vitamins and minerals are not counted. How NOVA works →

7 types of industrial ingredient+

Isolated fibres →inulin Emulsifiers →E442, E471 Flavourings →flavourings, flavouring Modified starches and sugars →glucose syrup Thickeners and gelling agents →E407 Acidity regulators →potassium carbonates Sweeteners →sucralose

Allergens

1 contain13 not listed

MilkContains

CeleryNot listed

Cereals containing glutenNot listed

CrustaceansNot listed

EggsNot listed

FishNot listed

LupinNot listed

MolluscsNot listed

MustardNot listed

NutsNot listed

PeanutsNot listed

SesameNot listed

SoybeansNot listed

Sulphur dioxide and sulphitesNot listed

Check the pack. Contains is taken from the ingredient list. May contain warnings are not shown here, and recipes change.

Full nutrition by portion

Per 100g as sold, and per portion.

Per	100g	One mug (11g powder)
Energy	349 kcal	38 kcal
Fat	9.1g	1g
of which saturates	6g	0.7g
Carbohydrate	35g	3.9g
of which sugars	25g	2.8g
Free sugar (Boone)	25g	2.8g
Fibre	29g	3.2g
Protein	16g	1.8g
Salt	2.2g	0.24g

Quick answers

How many calories are in Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate?+

38 kcal in one mug (11g powder). Per 100g it is 349 kcal.

How much sugar is in Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate?+

One mug (11g powder) has 2.8g of sugar, and Boone calculates 2.8g of it is free sugar, about 0.7 teaspoons. That is 14% of the 19g daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6 and 9% of the 30g adult limit.

Is Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate good for children?+

One mug (11g powder) gives 3.2g of fibre and 14% of a 4 to 6 year old’s free sugar limit. Cadbury Bournville Cocoa has 0g of free sugar per portion.

Is Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate ultra-processed?+

Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes isolated fibres, emulsifiers, flavourings, modified starches and sugars, thickeners and gelling agents, acidity regulators, sweeteners.

What is the nutrient profile score of Cadbury Highlights Instant Hot Chocolate?+

19 on the UK Nutrient Profiling Model 2018, calculated by Boone per 100g. Scores run from -20 to 40; 4 or more would be classed as less healthy.

Where the figures come from

Source. Morrisons product page, nutrition panel and ingredient list, per 100g as sold.

Collected. Copied by Boone from the Morrisons product page. Cadbury’s own page does not give full per 100g figures for this product. Data checks are led by Murray Dare.

Calculated by Boone. Free sugar, portion figures, traffic lights and the nutrient profile score. Labelled where they appear.

Limits. NHS free sugar and salt limits by age; UK reference intakes for adults.

Full methodology →UK Nutrient Profiling Model 2018 →NOVA food processing →

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