Is INTENSE DARK 72% CACAO DARK CHOCOLATE Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the raw materials first. The primary ingredient here is unsweetened chocolate (also known as cocoa mass). This is simply ground cocoa beans, which are naturally gluten-free. The cocoa butter is the fat extracted from the cocoa bean; it is pure fat and contains no gluten.

Next, we have sugar and vanilla extract. Both are standard ingredients in chocolate making and are inherently gluten-free. The only potential red flag for some is soy lecithin. While soy is gluten-free, lecithin is an emulsifier often derived from soybeans. It helps keep the texture smooth. Unless the chocolate is produced on shared equipment with barley-based ingredients, soy lecithin is safe for gluten-free diets.

From a formulation standpoint, this is a very clean label. There are no malt flavors, no cookie bits, and no wheat-based thickeners. The verdict remains a solid YES.

Nutritional Value

With a 72% cacao content, this bar sits in the 'high flavonoid' zone, meaning it offers significant antioxidant benefits. However, because it is dark chocolate, it is calorie-dense. You can expect roughly 50-60 calories per square, primarily derived from cocoa butter (saturated fats) and sugar.

While it fits a gluten-free diet, it is not necessarily a 'low calorie' food. The sugar content is the main factor to watch if you are managing blood sugar levels. However, compared to milk chocolate, the higher cacao percentage usually means you will feel satisfied with a smaller amount, which can actually help with portion control.