How Much Caffeine Is in a Hershey’s Chocolate Bar?

Hershey’s chocolate is one of America’s most popular kinds of chocolate. Children and adults enjoy it, but many parents have concerns about how much caffeine a regular chocolate bar contains. Fortunately, there isn’t that much, typically less than 10 milligrams (mg), but it depends on several factors, including the size of the bar and kind of chocolate, so keep reading as we take a closer look at the caffeine contents in Hershey’s chocolate.

A classic Hershey’s milk chocolate bar contains 6 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, while a dark chocolate Hershey’s bar has 12 milligrams per ounce. Keep reading to learn more!

Does Hershey’s Chocolate Contain Caffeine?

Yes. Cocoa beans, the source of all chocolate, naturally contain a small amount of caffeine, so all kinds of chocolate will contain caffeine, including Hershey’s. However, the amount of caffeine that a chocolate bar has can vary significantly depending on processing, type of chocolate, and size of the chocolate bar.

How Much Caffeine Is in a Hershey’s Bar?

Hershey’s milk chocolate, the type in a standard Hershey’s chocolate candy bar, contains about 6 mg of caffeine per 1 ounce of chocolate. The caffeine content rises to about 12 mg per ounce when consuming dark chocolate, and there’s no caffeine in white chocolate.

Caffeine in a Hershey’s Bar

Different Hershey’s candy bars will contain different amounts of caffeine. For example, a bar of dark chocolate will have more than a chocolate-covered fruit, so it can vary quite a bit. Here is a look at a few of Hershey’s products and the amount of caffeine that they contain. It’s important to remember that caffeine levels can also vary slightly due to weather conditions and other natural variations.

Does Hershey’s Chocolate Have Caffeine Levels Comparable to Coffee?

No. There’s not nearly as much caffeine in chocolate as there is in coffee, even in the stronger dark chocolate varieties. A standard 8-ounce coffee typically contains between 70 mg and 140 mg of caffeine, with some brands having much more than that. This small chart compares the caffeine in a Hershey’s bar with several popular coffee drinks.

Why Is There No Caffeine in Hershey’s White Chocolate?

The caffeine in cocoa is only in the solids of the seeds. The white chocolate that Hershey’s uses in its candy has only cocoa butter in the ingredients, which does not contain caffeine. Manufacturers press the cocoa butter from the cocoa seeds, discarding the remaining solids or using them in other recipes.

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How Much Caffeine Is Safe?

Most experts recommend keeping your caffeine intake below about 400 mg of caffeine per day to avoid health problems. You are not likely to consume that much by eating chocolate alone, but if you tend to drink several cups of coffee each day, eating too much chocolate can unknowingly put you over the limit.

What If I Consume Too Much Caffeine?

Consuming too much caffeine can lead to several side effects, like restlessness and anxiety that will usually wear off after a few hours but can lead to more serious problems, like a heart attack, if you frequently consume too much.

Summary

A standard Hershey’s chocolate bar contains about 9 mg per bar, but the caffeine level can vary considerably in other Hershey’s products. Dark chocolate candies have the most caffeine, with some varieties having more than three times the average, and white chocolate does not contain any, though there can still be some caffeine from other ingredients. Overall, the caffeine level of a Hershey’s chocolate bar is quite low compared to coffee and shouldn’t lead to any health problems.

Featured Image Credit: mjimages, Pixabay