Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup
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Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup is a sweet chocolate-flavoured topping for milk, pancakes and desserts, but it has no hazelnut in it. It scores [L]EC4: nutrition is lowest because it is nearly all sugar, ingredients are middling with artificial flavouring, a thickener and a hollow hazelnut promise, and risk is high on added sugar. Best as a small drizzle now and then.
Ingredients, decoded
10 listed- Sugar
- Water
- Invert Sugar
- Liquid Glucose
- Cocoa Powder (#3.4%)
- Cocoa Liquor (#0.6%)
- Flavours (Artificial Flavouring Substances - Hazelnut and Vanilla)
- Thickener (415)
- Preservative (202)
- Iodized Salt
13 teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 63.8 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 273.2 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0.95 g |
| Carbohydrates | 65.8 g |
| Total sugars | 63.8 g |
| Added sugars | 63.6 g |
| Total fat | 0.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 72.7 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup
A hazelnut syrup with no hazelnut, mostly sugar
A 180 g bottle of chocolate-flavoured syrup built on sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose, with cocoa powder (3.4%) and cocoa liquor (0.6%) behind them. It is sold to stir into milk, pour over pancakes and desserts, or add to coffee and fruit.
What you get is flavour and sweetness, not nutrition. A 30 g serve (2 tablespoons, 6 per pack) has about 82 kcal, 19.1 g added sugar and under 0.3 g protein. Per 100 g that is 273 kcal and 63.6 g added sugar, with 0.4 g saturated fat and 72.7 mg sodium. Fat and salt are low; sugar is the story.
The front says Hazelnut Flavor, and the list has no hazelnut. The taste comes from artificial flavouring substances, hazelnut and vanilla, and that is what sets the [L] flag. CleanPlate scores it [L]EC4.
Does Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup live up to its claims?
The hazelnut on the front does not hold: no hazelnut is listed, only artificial flavouring. The chocolate is real but small, with cocoa powder and cocoa liquor together about 4%.
- On the packMisleading
“Hazelnut Flavor”
No hazelnut is listed. The taste comes from artificial flavouring substances, hazelnut and vanilla.
- Product namePartly true
“Hershey's Syrup”
Cocoa is real but small: cocoa powder 3.4% and cocoa liquor 0.6%, after sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose.
- On the packBe careful
“Hazelnut Flavored Syrup”
The back says flavoured, which is honest about the artificial flavouring. It sits beside a front that reads like a hazelnut product, which the list does not support.
Why Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup scores [L]EC4
Nutrition is an E: 63.6 g added sugar per 100 g and almost no protein or fibre. Ingredients are a C, with artificial flavouring and a missing hazelnut. Risk is a 4, driven by the sugar.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 0.95 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 273 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
Protein is 0.95 g per 100 g and no fibre is declared, so the grade has almost nothing to build on. Carbohydrate is 65.8 g per 100 g, and 63.6 g of it is added sugar.
No vitamins or minerals are declared. The small amount of cocoa gives the little protein there is, but not enough to earn credit.
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Sugar
- Sweeteners
- 3 types
- Additives
- 2
- Flagged
- None
- Artificial flavour or colour
- Yes
02 Ingredient integrity: why C
Four sweet ingredients lead the list: sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose. Cocoa powder (3.4%) and cocoa liquor (0.6%) are real but come after them.
Artificial flavouring substances and xanthan gum (415) each cost ingredient points. The preservative, potassium sorbate (202), costs none.
Hazelnut is in the name and on the front but not in the list, which sets the [L] and costs further ingredient points.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 63.6 g
- Sodium
- 72.7 mg
- Saturated fat
- 0.4 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
03 Load risk: why 4
Added sugar drives almost all of the risk: 63.6 g per 100 g, about 19.1 g in a 30 g serve. That puts the risk grade at a 4.
Saturated fat (0.4 g per 100 g) and sodium (72.7 mg per 100 g) are low, and trans fat is declared as 0 g. Energy is 273 kcal per 100 g, about 82 kcal per serve.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High added sugar (63.6g per 100g)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Low sodium
What's in Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
Sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose lead the list, and cocoa comes after. Watch the sugar and the artificial flavouring.
The ingredient list, read for you
Sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose come first, so this is a sugar syrup before anything else. Cocoa powder (3.4%) and cocoa liquor (0.6%) give the chocolate taste. Artificial hazelnut and vanilla flavouring gives the name flavour, xanthan gum (415) thickens it, potassium sorbate (202) preserves it, and iodized salt finishes the list.
Ingredients to watch
- Added sugarConcern
63.6 g per 100 g, about 19.1 g in a 30 g serve. This drives the nutrition and risk grades.
- Artificial hazelnut flavouringConcern
Hazelnut is on the front but not in the list. The flavour is artificial, which sets the [L] and costs ingredient points.
- Xanthan gum (415)Worth watching
A thickener that costs a small ingredient penalty. It is common in syrups.
- Potassium sorbate (202)Worth watching
A preservative that keeps the syrup stable. It costs no ingredient points.
- Fat and sodiumFine
0.4 g saturated fat and 72.7 mg sodium per 100 g, with 0 g trans fat. Both are low.
What it doesn’t have
- No hazelnut in the ingredient list, despite the name.
- No fibre, vitamins or minerals are declared.
Who should eat Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
An occasional topping for most adults, and rarely for children or anyone watching blood sugar, since a 30 g serve has 19.1 g added sugar.
- Most adultsOccasionally
A 30 g serve has 19.1 g added sugar for 82 kcal.
- ChildrenRarely
Mostly sugar with artificial flavouring, and it is easy to add to milk every day.
- Diabetes or prediabetesRarely
63.6 g added sugar per 100 g, with no fibre or protein to slow it.
- Weight managementOccasionally
82 kcal per serve is small, but it is all sugar and easy to over-pour.
Recipes with Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup
Use it by the spoon: a tablespoon in milk, over pancakes or in coffee carries about 9.5 g added sugar, so measure it.
Hazelnut-flavoured milk
Stir one tablespoon into a glass of milk for about 9.5 g added sugar, half the 30 g serve.
Pancakes with a light drizzle
Drizzle one tablespoon over a stack and add sliced fruit, so the sweetness comes partly from the fruit instead of a second pour.
Flavoured coffee
Add a teaspoon to hot coffee for flavour. A tablespoon of syrup has about 41 kcal, so a smaller spoon keeps it light.
Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup is a sweet chocolate-flavoured topping for milk, pancakes and desserts, but it has no hazelnut in it. It scores [L]EC4: nutrition is lowest because it is nearly all sugar, ingredients are middling with artificial flavouring, a thickener and a hollow hazelnut promise, and risk is high on added sugar. Best as a small drizzle now and then. Nutrition E, ingredients C, load risk 4; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
Per 100 g, Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup has 273 kcal, 0.95 g protein, 65.8 g carbohydrate, 0.7 g fat and 0.4 g saturated fat. One serve (2 tbsp, 30 g) has 82 kcal and 0.3 g protein.
What are the ingredients in Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
10 ingredients, in label order: Sugar, Water, Invert Sugar, Liquid Glucose, Cocoa Powder (#3.4%), Cocoa Liquor (#0.6%), Flavours (Artificial Flavouring Substances - Hazelnut and Vanilla), Thickener (415), Preservative (202), Iodized Salt.
Does Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup live up to its claims?
3 claims checked: 1 is partly true, 1 needs care, 1 is misleading. "Hazelnut Flavor" is misleading: No hazelnut is listed. The taste comes from artificial flavouring substances, hazelnut and vanilla. "Hershey's Syrup" is partly true: Cocoa is real but small: cocoa powder 3.4% and cocoa liquor 0.6%, after sugar, water, invert sugar and liquid glucose.
Who should limit Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup?
Most adults: occasionally. A 30 g serve has 19.1 g added sugar for 82 kcal. Children: rarely. Mostly sugar with artificial flavouring, and it is easy to add to milk every day. Diabetes or prediabetes: rarely. 63.6 g added sugar per 100 g, with no fibre or protein to slow it.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup have?
Per 100 g, Hershey's Hazelnut Syrup has 63.6 g added sugar, 73 mg sodium (about 0.2 g salt) and 0.4 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is high in sugar.
Last reviewed October 23, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
