Bad Bites - nutritional value of new products from Hershey's - Brief Article

Nutrition Action Healthletter, July, 2001

Hershey is in the chocolate business. The more chocolate it sells, the happier its stockholders are ... which is why we're surprised that it took so long for Hershey's Bites to show up on supermarket shelves.

The company has taken seven of its popular chocolate bars (like Heath, KitKat, and Almond Joy) and turned them into bite-sized chocolate balls.

Bottom line: Hershey gets to introduce seven new products with out having to develop seven new foods. And consumers get suckered in by the slogan on the packages: "For a big taste, have a little bite."

Fat chance. One serving (about 17 mini-balls) of most Bites contains 220 calories and seven grams of saturated fat--a third of a day's worth.

That's like eating a regular-size (1 1/2-oz.) candy bar. But when you finish a bar, that's it. When you finish your 17 Bites, what's to stop you from going for 20, 25, 30, or.... There are anywhere from 60 Bites (5.3-oz. bag) to 150 Bites (12.3-oz. bag) in each package. You do the math.

On the other hand, if you're like some people, getting your candy in smaller sizes may give you a crack at eating less. And if you stick to Hershey's Lower-fat York Bites (mini Peppermint Patties), you'll get away with less damage to your arteries.

Hershey's: (800) 468-1714.