How Much Sugar Do Popular Easter Eggs Contain?

In the UK and Ireland, Easter is closely associated with chocolate eggs sold by major confectionary companies like Cadbury's and Mars. Usually sold with two accompanying chocolate bars or a mug, the chocolate eggs are a great way to overindulge and celebrate the end of lent. Unfortunately, some Easter eggs contain huge levels of sugar.

Safefood, a body which promotes awareness and knowledge of food safety and nutritional issues across Ireland, set out to determine sugar levels in a range of popular Easter eggs. The organisation says that the maximum mount of sugar per day recommended for adults is about 10 teaspoons for women and 14 for men (a teaspoon is equal to about 4 grams or one sugar cube). For children, it is six to seven teaspoons.

As the following infographic shows, many Easter eggs contain far more than the recommended daily level. Even though it's probably irresistable to many people seeking an extra special ending to lent, the Cadbury's XL Dairy Milk Giant egg which weights 515 grams was the worst offender with 73 teaspoons of sugar. The company's XL caramel egg also had a high sugar content with 46 teaspoons.