Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix
Published
Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate is a malted drink mix with added calcium, vitamin D and other vitamins, aimed at women. It scores [F][L]CB4: nutrition is middling and leans on fortification, ingredients lose points for a sweetener, caramel colour and flavouring plus a zero-added-sugar claim that does not hold, and risk is high from sodium and cereal sugars. Best as an occasional drink.
Ingredients, decoded
11 listed- Cereal Extract
- Barley
- Wheat
- Malted Barley
- Wheat Bran
- Milk Solids
- Maltodextrin
- Cocoa Powder
- Minerals
- Natural Colour (INS 150d)
- Nature Identical Flavouring Substances
- Edible Iodised Salt
- Vegetable Juice Powder (Beetroot)
- Vitamins
- Non-Caloric Sweetener (INS 950)
5½ teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 28 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68.2 g |
| Total sugars | 28 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Dietary fibre | 2 g |
| Total fat | 3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0.1 g |
| Cholesterol | 6 mg |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
| Zinc | 2.7 mg |
| Calcium | 1000 mg |
| Iodine | 82.5 µg |
| Magnesium | 121 mg |
| Potassium | 542 mg |
| Selenium | 43 µg |
| Vitamin C | 66.6 mg |
| Vitamin E | 4.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 330 µg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.6 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 1.8 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 6.7 mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 2.8 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 3.3 mg |
| Vitamin D | 16.7 µg |
| Folic acid | 200 µg |
| Vitamin B7 | 16.5 µg |
| Vitamin K2 | 91.7 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.6 µg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix
Bone nutrients added, but the zero added sugar claim slips
A 400 g tub of cereal-based drink mix, sold to women who want nutrition for strong bones. It is built on cereal extract (44%) from barley, wheat, malted barley and wheat bran, then milk solids (5%), maltodextrin and cocoa powder, with added minerals and vitamins, iodised salt, beetroot juice powder, caramel colour, flavouring and the sweetener acesulfame potassium.
You stir 30 g into 200 ml of milk or water. That serve gives 108 kcal and 4.5 g protein. Per 100 g the powder has 360 kcal, 15 g protein, 2 g fibre and 28 g total sugar, with 0 g added sugar declared. It is fortified: 1,000 mg calcium and 16.7 mcg vitamin D per 100 g, plus zinc and several B vitamins. Sodium is printed as under 650 mg per 100 g, so treat it as an upper limit.
The front says zero added sugar, but the sugar from cereal extract and beetroot juice powder is not counted in that line, and about 15 g per 100 g of free sugar remains. Chocolate is in the name, yet the cocoa share is not declared. The fortification is real. CleanPlate scores it [F][L]CB4.
Does Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix live up to its claims?
The zero added sugar claim is misleading because cereal extract and juice powder add free sugar. The 100% RDA and bone-strength claims depend on taking two serves.
- On the packMisleading
“Zero added sugar*”
The panel shows 0 g added sugar, but cereal extract (44%) and beetroot juice powder are free-sugar ingredients. About 15 g of free sugar per 100 g is left out of that line.
- Product namePartly true
“Chocolate flavour”
Cocoa powder is listed, but its share is not declared, and nature-identical flavouring is added as well.
- On the packBe careful
“100% RDA of Calcium, Vitamin D & K2”
True only for two serves (60 g). One 30 g serve gives about 300 mg calcium and 5 mcg vitamin D, roughly half. The retailer page shows the same claim without the two-serve condition, while the pack back states it.
- On the packBe careful
“Clinically proven to help improve bone strength”
The pack cites a six-month study in young Indian women on bone turnover markers. The result applies to the product as studied, taken as directed.
- On the packBe careful
“Protein for muscles”
Protein is 15 g per 100 g, so one serve gives 4.5 g. That is a modest amount, mostly from milk solids and cereal.
Why Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix scores [L][F]CB4
Nutrition is a C and only gets there on fortification, an ingredient grade of B is held down by additives and a sugar claim, and risk is a 4 on sodium and about 15 g free sugar per 100 g.
Adequate nutrient density
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- 19 declared
- Energy
- 360 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why C
Protein is 15 g per 100 g and fibre 2 g, so the core of the grade is low. Milk solids are the largest protein source at about 8 g per 100 g of the powder.
Added vitamins and minerals lift the grade: calcium, vitamin D, zinc, folic acid and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and C are all fortified. Without that fortification the grade would drop a step.
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.
Good, few concerning additives
- Base
- Cereal Extract
- Sweeteners
- Maltodextrin
- Additives
- 0
- Flagged
- 3 ingredients
02 Ingredient integrity: why B
The list is cereal extract, milk solids, maltodextrin and cocoa powder, which is a reasonable base. Acesulfame potassium, sulphite ammonia caramel colour (150d) and nature-identical flavouring each cost ingredient points.
The front claim of zero added sugar costs ingredient points, because cereal extract and beetroot juice powder are free-sugar ingredients. Chocolate is in the name with no cocoa percentage declared, which costs a smaller label point. This is what sets the [L].
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 0 g
- Sodium
- 650 mg
- Saturated fat
- 1.5 g
- Trans fat
- 0.1 g
03 Load risk: why 4
Sodium is the biggest driver: up to 650 mg per 100 g, about 195 mg per 30 g serve. Free sugar is next at about 15 g per 100 g, which is the total of 28 g minus the 13 g that occurs naturally.
Energy at 360 kcal per 100 g, saturated fat at 1.5 g and trans fat at 0.1 g add little. Added sugar is declared as 0 g, but the scoring counts the cereal sugars.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
[F] Added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift this product's nutrition grade. Without them it would score lower.
[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sugar (28g per 100g)
- −Red flag: High sodium (650mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (15g)
- +Green flag: No added sugar
What's in Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
Cereal extract, milk solids and maltodextrin lead the list. Watch the acesulfame potassium, the caramel colour and the sodium.
The ingredient list, read for you
Cereal extract (44%) leads, made from barley, wheat, malted barley and wheat bran, and gives the malt flavour and most of the sugar. Milk solids (5%) add protein and calcium, maltodextrin adds bulk and sweetness, and cocoa powder gives the chocolate taste with no share declared. Minerals and vitamins are the fortification. Caramel colour (150d), nature-identical flavouring and beetroot juice powder shape colour and taste, and acesulfame potassium sweetens it. The pack warns it contains wheat, barley and milk, and may contain soy.
Ingredients to watch
- Free sugar behind the zero added sugar claimConcern
Cereal extract and beetroot juice powder bring about 15 g free sugar per 100 g, about 4.5 g per serve. Total sugar is 28 g per 100 g.
- Acesulfame potassium (950)Concern
An artificial sweetener that costs ingredient points. The pack says it is not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women.
- SodiumWorth watching
Printed as under 650 mg per 100 g, so an upper bound. One serve has up to about 195 mg.
- Caramel colour (150d) and flavouringWorth watching
Sulphite ammonia caramel and nature-identical flavouring each cost ingredient points.
- Calcium and vitamin DFine
1,000 mg calcium and 16.7 mcg vitamin D per 100 g, added along with zinc and B vitamins.
What it doesn’t have
- No cocoa percentage is given, though chocolate is in the name.
- Fibre is low at 2 g per 100 g for a cereal-based drink.
Who should eat Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
An occasional drink for most adults, and rarely for children, since the pack advises against the sweetener for them.
- Most adultsOccasionally
Up to 195 mg sodium and about 4.5 g free sugar per serve, with a sweetener.
- ChildrenRarely
The pack advises against acesulfame potassium for children.
- Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally
About 15 g free sugar and 68 g carbohydrate per 100 g, so check with your doctor if unsure.
- Weight managementOccasionally
108 kcal per serve before any milk, with little fibre to fill you.
Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate is a malted drink mix with added calcium, vitamin D and other vitamins, aimed at women. It scores [F][L]CB4: nutrition is middling and leans on fortification, ingredients lose points for a sweetener, caramel colour and flavouring plus a zero-added-sugar claim that does not hold, and risk is high from sodium and cereal sugars. Best as an occasional drink. CleanPlate scores it [L][F]CB4: nutrition C, ingredients B, load risk 4 (A and 1 are best).
How many calories and how much protein are in Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
Per 100 g, Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix has 360 kcal, 15 g protein, 68.2 g carbohydrate, 3 g fat and 1.5 g saturated fat. One serve (1 serve, 30 g (3 heaped spoons)) has 108 kcal and 4.5 g protein.
What are the ingredients in Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
11 ingredients, in label order: Cereal Extract (Barley, Wheat, Malted Barley, Wheat Bran), Milk Solids, Maltodextrin, Cocoa Powder, Minerals, Natural Colour (INS 150d), Nature Identical Flavouring Substances, Edible Iodised Salt, Vegetable Juice Powder (Beetroot), Vitamins, Non-Caloric Sweetener (INS 950). Flagged: Maltodextrin (low concern), Caramel Colour (Class IV) (low concern), Acesulfame Potassium (low concern).
Does Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix live up to its claims?
5 claims checked: 1 is partly true, 3 need care, 1 is misleading. "Zero added sugar*" is misleading: The panel shows 0 g added sugar, but cereal extract (44%) and beetroot juice powder are free-sugar ingredients. About 15 g of free sugar per 100 g is left out of that line. "Chocolate flavour" is partly true: Cocoa powder is listed, but its share is not declared, and nature-identical flavouring is added as well.
Who should limit Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix?
Most adults: occasionally. Up to 195 mg sodium and about 4.5 g free sugar per serve, with a sweetener. Children: rarely. The pack advises against acesulfame potassium for children. Diabetes or prediabetes: occasionally. About 15 g free sugar and 68 g carbohydrate per 100 g, so check with your doctor if unsure.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix have?
Per 100 g, Horlicks Women's Plus Chocolate Flavour Drink Mix has 0 g added sugar, 650 mg sodium (about 1.6 g salt) and 1.5 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 and salt.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 29 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2026 | CB4 | v5.0 | History starts here |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
Better Malt & Health Drink Mixes
All Malt & Health Drink Mixes →- Horlicks Chocolate Pro Fitness Drink MixFortified
- −Red flag: Contains Acesulfame Potassium
- +Green flag: High protein (36g per 100g)
- Horlicks Classic Malt Drink Mix (No Added Sugar)Fortified
- −Red flag: High sugar (32g per 100g)
- +Green flag: High fibre (6.1g)
- Horlicks Diabetes Plus Drink MixFortified
- −Red flag: High sugar (28g per 100g)
- −Red flag: Contains Acesulfame Potassium
- Native Diet ABC Malt Drink Mix
- +Green flag: Source of protein (14.8g)
- +Green flag: Source of fibre
