Does Nestle Hot Cocoa Contain Sucralose? Yes; Swiss Miss No

TL;DR: Yes: Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate lists sucralose in its ingredients, and Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate does not. Per serving, Swiss Miss lists 23 g added sugars (46% DV) in a 39 g envelope and Nestle lists 10 g (20% DV) in a 24 g packet, while Nestle lists more sodium (240 mg vs 170 mg).

The sections below compare the two mixes on sucralose, hydrogenated oil, added sugar, and sodium per serving so you can weigh each measure against your own priorities.

Key takeaways

• Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate lists sucralose in its ingredients; the Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate ingredient list does not.
• Per serving, Swiss Miss lists 23 g added sugars (46% DV) and Nestle lists 10 g (20% DV).
• Sodium is 170 mg per Swiss Miss envelope and 240 mg per Nestle packet.
• Both labels list a hydrogenated oil and 0 g trans fat per serving, but neither oil is clearly identified as partially hydrogenated.

What Are the Ingredients in Swiss Miss vs Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix?

Both ingredient lists start with sugar and include cocoa processed with alkali and a hydrogenated oil. The Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate envelope, per its Conagra SmartLabel, lists sugar, corn syrup, modified whey, cocoa (processed with alkali), hydrogenated coconut oil, nonfat milk, and less than 2% of salt, dipotassium phosphate, mono- and diglycerides, and natural flavor.

The Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate packet, per its label photos on Open Food Facts, lists sugar, dairy product solids (milk), corn syrup solids, hydrogenated vegetable oil (coconut and/or palm kernel and/or soybean), cocoa processed with alkali, and less than 2% of salt, dipotassium phosphate, sodium caseinate, sodium aluminosilicate, guar gum, mono- and diglycerides, sucralose, and artificial flavor. The Nestle label also says rainforest alliance certified cocoa and ingredients derived from a bioengineered source.

The clearest differences on the listed ingredients are:

• Sweetener: sucralose is listed for Nestle and not for Swiss Miss.
• Flavor: Swiss Miss lists natural flavor; Nestle lists artificial flavor.
• Additives: Nestle lists sodium caseinate, sodium aluminosilicate, and guar gum, which do not appear on the Swiss Miss list.
• Milk sources: Swiss Miss lists modified whey and nonfat milk; Nestle lists dairy product solids (milk). Both carry a milk allergen statement.

Carrageenan is not listed on the current Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate 8ct label. Anyone who has seen it mentioned elsewhere can check the ingredient list on their own package to confirm.

Does Swiss Miss vs Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix Contain Sucralose?

Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate lists sucralose; Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate does not (per 24 g packet and 39 g envelope). The Swiss Miss SmartLabel and Open Food Facts entry both leave sucralose out of the ingredient list. The FDA says sucralose 'is approved for use in food as a sweetener', is sold under the brand name Splenda, and 'is about 600 times sweeter than table sugar'.

The amount of sucralose in the Nestle mix was not disclosed, so the label establishes that sucralose is present but not how much it contributes to each packet. For what sucralose is and how it is used, see the sucralose ingredient review.

For a parallel sweetener label comparison, see Does fairlife Chocolate Milk Have Sucralose? Horizon Doesn't.

How Much Added Sugar Is in Swiss Miss vs Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix Per Envelope?

Swiss Miss lists 23 g of added sugars per 39 g envelope (46% DV), and Nestle lists 10 g per 24 g packet (20% DV). Total sugars are 28 g for Swiss Miss and 16 g for Nestle per serving.

The FDA Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Under FDA's %DV guidance, 20% DV or more is considered high. The Swiss Miss figure of 46% DV is above that level.

Nestle's label includes a footnote beginning 'compared to our previous cocoa mix', but the rest of that footnote was not disclosed here. The reason for the lower sugar figure and the basis of that comparison are therefore unknown from the label facts available.

How Much Sodium Is in Swiss Miss vs Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix Per Envelope?

Swiss Miss lists 170 mg of sodium per 39 g envelope (7% DV), and Nestle lists 240 mg per 24 g packet (10% DV). The difference is 70 mg per labeled serving, and Nestle is the higher of the two on this measure.

Under FDA's thresholds, where 5% DV or less is low and 20% DV or more is high, neither serving falls in either range. These figures describe the dry mix only. Nutrition as prepared with milk was not disclosed for either product, so the sodium in a finished cup is unknown from these labels.

People who track sodium may find it useful to read the mg figure and the %DV together, since a single serving does not show total daily intake.

Do Swiss Miss vs Nestle Hot Cocoa Mixes Contain Hydrogenated Oil and Trans Fat?

Both labels list a hydrogenated oil and 0 g trans fat per serving: the Swiss Miss serving is one 39 g envelope and the Nestle serving is one 24 g packet. Swiss Miss lists hydrogenated coconut oil, and Nestle lists hydrogenated vegetable oil made from coconut and/or palm kernel and/or soybean.

Neither label clearly identifies its oil as partially hydrogenated, so the 0 g trans fat line and the oil name together do not settle the trans-fat question. The processing details of each oil were not disclosed.

When you check a label yourself:

• Search the ingredient list for the words partially hydrogenated.
• Read the trans fat line alongside the serving size.
• Compare how each oil is named, including any listed sources.
• Contact the manufacturer if the label leaves the oil's processing unclear.

How Do Calories, Fat, and Serving Size Compare for Swiss Miss vs Nestle?

Per serving, Swiss Miss lists 160 calories from a 39 g envelope, and Nestle lists 100 calories from a 24 g packet. Both list 2.5 g total fat (3% DV).

Label item	Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate (per envelope)	Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate (per packet)
Serving size	1 envelope (39 g)	1 packet (24 g)
Servings per container	8	8
Calories	160	100
Total fat	2.5 g (3% DV)	2.5 g (3% DV)
Saturated fat	2 g (10% DV)	2.5 g (13% DV)
Trans fat	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg (0% DV)	0 mg (0% DV)
Sodium	170 mg (7% DV)	240 mg (10% DV)
Total carbohydrate	34 g (12% DV)	19 g (7% DV)
Total sugars	28 g	16 g
Added sugars	23 g (46% DV)	10 g (20% DV)
Protein	1 g	Less than 1 g
Calcium	40 mg (4% DV)	30 mg (2% DV)
Potassium	320 mg (6% DV)	270 mg (6% DV)
Sucralose listed in ingredients	No	Yes

Swiss Miss packages 8 envelopes with a net weight of 11.04 oz (313 g), and its brand page lists 6, 8, 30, and 60 count sizes. Nestle's net weight was not disclosed. Swiss Miss directs you to empty the cocoa into a mug and add hot water or milk (1 cup / 8 fl oz). Nestle's mixing directions and the water or milk amount were not disclosed.

How Can You Spot Sucralose, Hydrogenated Oil, and Added Sugar on the Label?

Look for sucralose or Splenda in the ingredient list, check for hydrogenated oil wording, and read the added sugars line under Total Sugars on the Nutrition Facts panel. Then compare per-serving amounts, because these serving sizes are 39 g and 24 g.

• Find Total Sugars, then the indented Includes Added Sugars line directly below it.
• Compare the added sugars %DV against FDA's 50 g daily reference.
• Scan the ingredient list for sucralose, Splenda, or other sweeteners.
• Look for the hydrogenated oil name and whether the label calls it partially hydrogenated.
• Check the serving size and servings per container before comparing numbers.
• Read sodium in mg and %DV, not only the %DV.

Sweeteners appear on many chocolate-flavored labels in different forms. For another example, see Does Lily's Chocolate Have Erythritol? Yes; Hu Doesn't.