What’s Lurking in Your Easter Chocolate Eggs

For most of us, a sit-down Easter meal with family loved ones is a cherished tradition. But for kids, decorating Easter eggs and eating chocolate eggs are perhaps the favorite Easter events. So how should you go about choosing a chocolate product for your kids this coming Easter?

What to Watch Out for in Easter Chocolate Eggs

• Sugar: Obviously, you’ll find sugar in these eggs. All the branded chocolate products we reviewed listed sugar as the first ingredient, meaning that chocolate eggs actually have more sugar than cocoa. Easter eggs with candy shells contain about 7 tsp of sugar per serving, while eggs with just chocolate contain 4 to 5 tsp of sugar per serving.
• Artificial dyes: Chocolate eggs with candy shells may contain an artificial azo dye called tartrazine, also known as FD&C Yellow No.5 or E102. Some early studies suggested that tartrazine might exacerbate asthma symptoms, although a later systematic review found this not to be true. After a 2007 study conducted by researchers at Southampton University suggested tartrazine and five other food dyes might cause hyperactivity in some kids, the UK’s Food Standards Agency immediately called for food manufacturers to phase out these food dyes by 2009. In the United States, FD&C Yellow No. 5 has been approved for use in foods since 1969.

Chocolate Eggs at a Glance2

Product	One serving (~40g)	Calories (kcal)	Sugar (g)	Contains tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5)?
	Cadbury Mini Eggs	200	26	Yes
	Lindt Mini Eggs	240	19	No
	M&M's Speck-tacular Eggs	190	24	Yes
	Hershey's Eggies	190	26	Yes
	Kinder Surprise	220	20	No

The Bottom Line

Don’t put a damper on the Easter spirit – simply provide better choices for your kids. Stick to eggs with chocolate only, such as those from local chocolate shops, and skip the branded ones with a candy shell, which contains more sugar, dyes, artificial flavor, and wax.

Gloria Tsang, RD

Alumni: University of British Columbia – Gloria Tsang is the author of 6 books and the founder of HealthCastle.com, the largest online nutrition network run by registered dietitians. Her work has appeared in major national publications, and she is a regularly featured nutrition expert for media outlets across the country. The Huffington Post named her one of its Top 20 Nutrition Experts on Twitter. Gloria’s articles have appeared on various media such as Reuters, NBC & ABC affiliates, The Chicago Sun-Times, Reader’s Digest Canada, iVillage and USA Today.