[<Normal page] [PEREZGONZALEZ Jose D (2011). Nutritional evolution of chocolate bars. Journal of Knowledge Advancement & Integration (ISSN 1177-4576), 2011, pages 28-31.]
Nutritional evolution of chocolate bars
The nutritional composition of chocolate snack bars in New Zealand and Australia has remained unchanged in the four years between 2007 and 2011, according to a research done by Pérezgonzález (2011a2). That is, although individual chocolate bars may have changed slightly in nutritional composition, the average chocolate bar in 2007 and the average chocolate bar in 2011 are practically the same.
Using a sample of 15 chocolate snack bars of the same brand and make for both periods, Pérezgonzález found no significant differences in either the nutritional composition of the snack bars or their overall nutritional balance (see Illustration 1). The average nutritional balance was BNI 124.05s in 2007 and BNI 123.53s in 2011, hardly any change at all.
Results were also very similar for individual macronutrients, which showed that an average chocolate bar is extremely low in protein and fiber, and extremely high in sugars, fat and saturated fat; on the positive side, it is also extremely low in sodium (see profile in Illustration 2).
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International standards
Individual chocolate snack bars may have changed slightly in nutritional composition and, thus, nutritional balance, but while some snack bars may have become slightly more balanced, others have become equally more unbalanced, resulting in a similar average for both years. Illustration 3 shows small changes in nutritional balance along the years and across different international Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs). It also shows that these nutritional indexes are high and relatively similar to each other, indicating that the nutritional composition of chocolate snack bars would be deemed equally unbalanced in different countries.
Illustration 3: Nutritional balance across different RDIs (average snack bar) | |||||||
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Food | Company | Year | BNI | WHO | US/CAN | AUS/NZ | UK |
Aero | Nestle | 2011 | 134.79 | 134.79 | 104.79 | 134.79 | 130.79 |
(Aero Temptations caramel) | 2007 | 135.91 | 135.91 | 105.91 | 135.91 | 131.91 | |
Dairy Milk | Cadbury | 2011 | 133.51 | 133.51 | 103.51 | 133.51 | 129.51 |
2007 | 132.44 | 132.44 | 102.39 | 132.39 | 128.39 | ||
Dairy Milk caramello | Cadbury | 2011 | 130.04 | 130.04 | 100.04 | 130.04 | 126.04 |
2007 | 124.68 | 124.68 | 94.68 | 124.68 | 120.68 | ||
Dairy Milk fruit & nut | Cadbury | 2011 | 130.13 | 130.13 | 93.51 | 123.51 | 119.51 |
2007 | 127.29 | 127.29 | 91.74 | 121.74 | 117.74 | ||
Flake | Cadbury | 2011 | 134.42 | 134.42 | 104.42 | 134.42 | 130.42 |
2007 | 134.37 | 134.37 | 104.37 | 134.37 | 130.37 | ||
KitKat | Nestle | 2011 | 128.16 | 128.16 | 98.16 | 128.16 | 124.16 |
2007 | 124.51 | 124.51 | 94.51 | 124.51 | 120.51 | ||
Mars | Mars | 2011 | 124.31 | 124.31 | 94.31 | 124.31 | 120.31 |
2007 | 132.28 | 132.28 | 102.28 | 132.28 | 128.28 | ||
Milkybar | Nestle | 2011 | 137.11 | 137.11 | 107.06 | 137.06 | 133.06 |
2007 | 136.98 | 136.98 | 104.03 | 134.03 | 130.03 | ||
Moro Gold | Cadbury | 2011 | 129.76 | 129.76 | 99.76 | 129.76 | 125.76 |
2007 | 123.40 | 123.40 | 93.40 | 123.40 | 119.40 | ||
Perky Nana | Cadbury | 2011 | 102.96 | 102.96 | 72.96 | 102.96 | 98.96 |
2007 | 119.83 | 119.83 | 89.83 | 119.83 | 115.83 | ||
Picnic | Cadbury | 2011 | 115.94 | 115.94 | 75.94 | 105.94 | 103.94 |
2007 | 111.55 | 111.55 | 71.55 | 101.55 | 99.55 | ||
Pinky | Cadbury | 2011 | 129.97 | 129.97 | 99.97 | 129.97 | 125.97 |
2007 | 130.12 | 130.12 | 100.12 | 130.12 | 126.12 | ||
Pixie caramel | Nestle | 2011 | 139.13 | 139.13 | 109.13 | 139.13 | 135.13 |
2007 | 135.11 | 135.11 | 105.11 | 135.11 | 131.11 | ||
Snickers | Mars | 2011 | 116.58 | 116.58 | 76.58 | 106.58 | 104.58 |
(Snickers Maximus) | 2007 | 122.60 | 122.60 | 82.60 | 112.60 | 110.60 | |
Twix | Mars | 2011 | 112.30 | 112.30 | 82.30 | 112.30 | 108.30 |
2007 | 118.46 | 118.46 | 88.46 | 118.46 | 114.46 |
Furthermore, the correlations between the results obtained using the BNI™ RDIs and those of other nutritional standards were also very high and significantly so. This suggests that the nutritional balance reported by the BNI™ index matches that of other national standards. (Said otherwise, that chocolate snack bars tend to form a similar hierarchy when indexed using different international standards).
Illustration 4: Correlations between RDIs | ||||
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BNI | WHO | US/CAN | AUS/NZ | |
WHO | 1.000 | |||
(sig.) | .000 | |||
US/CAN | .950 | .950 | ||
(sig.) | .000 | .000 | ||
AUS/NZ | .950 | .950 | 1.000 | |
(sig.) | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
UK | .962 | .962 | .999 | .999 |
(sig.) | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Methods
Sample
- 15 chocolate bars and candy bars normally sold as snack bars around New Zealand (yet all bars were made in Australia and, thus, can be assumed they were equally available there).
- All bars but two were similar in make and branding in both years. The two bars that differed were 'Snickers Maximus' in 2007, which got substituted with 'Snickers' in 2011, and 'Aero Temptations caramel' in 2007, which got substituted with 'Aero' in 2011.
- The sampling selection was conditioned by decisions made back in 2007 regarding a similar research on a larger sample of snack bars (see Pérezgonzález, 20071). Thus, the sample should be considered a convenient one, kept similar to that in 2007 for the purpose of a more accurate comparison between the same snack bars.
Materials & analysis
- The nutrition information for each bar was retrieved from the nutritional information panel at the back of the bar, and analyzed using the Balance Nutrition Index™ (BNI™) technology (see Pérezgonzález, 2011b3).
- SPSS-v16 was used for statistical analysis, which included descriptives, t-tests for independent samples, and correlations.
Want to know more?
- BNI™ database
- The database offers individual nutrition analysis for foods, including the snack bars in the sample as well as the average 'chocolate bars' for both years found in this research.
- BNI™ journal - 2011
- This issue of the Balanced Nutrition Index™ journal collates all BNI™ nutrition information for the snacks in the sample as well as average 'chocolate bars' in a single book.
- Wiki of Science - Balance Nutrition Index™ (BNI™)
- This Wiki of Science page offers more information about the BNI™ technology.
Author
Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2011). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalez).
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