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24th March 2026
Easter egg choccie choices
Easter weekend is almost here, and it’s beginning to feel like Spring at last!
Eggs at Easter time have symbolised fertility, new life, and rebirth in some faith traditions for centuries. Chocolate Easter eggs were introduced by chocolate makers J. S. Fry & Sons in 1873 when they produced the first hollow chocolate egg, and they’ve got bigger and more elaborate ever since.
Chocolate eggs are abundant at this time of year and a treat for adults and children alike. But as awareness of UPFs grows, some families are choosing their chocolate treats more carefully, so it’s worth taking a closer look at the ingredients in Easter eggs to enjoy them a little more healthily.
The benefits of chocolate
Chocolate is thought to have some neurological benefits, especially dark chocolate, because it contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid. After absorbing tryptophan from food, our body converts it to 5-HTP (5-hyrdoxytryptophan), then to mood-boosting serotonin, before finally converting it to melatonin which plays a key role in your natural sleep-wake cycle.
Dark chocolate is also a source of flavonoids which may benefit cognitive brain function by influencing signalling pathways, which could help improve memory. It’s also a rich supply of antioxidants and has lower levels of sugar, which is why some people believe dark chocolate is the “healthier” choice.
So, chocolate is broadly quite good for us! So how can we maximise the benefits?
Choose Easter eggs with organic ingredients
Organic cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and organic raw cane sugar grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides, leave the main ingredients free of chemical residues. The same applies to organically produced milk in lighter chocolate – an Easter egg that is certified organic is produced without any ingredients exposed to pesticides or herbicides. Some eggs also have flavourings or filling, so it’s also worth checking if natural or artificial flavours have been used.
But that’s not the whole story.
Easter egg packaging
Many types of food packaging contain phthalates which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable. Phthalates can transfer from packaging into food, and once ingested they could pose several health risks. Easter eggs are also usually wrapped in foil, which could increase your exposure to aluminium by a small amount. If possible, choose plain brown paper or card packaging with no inks or dyes to help you avoid any chemicals lurking in packaging.
Chocolate free ideas for Easter
Easter isn’t just about chocolate though – for many it’s the first time to gather with friends and family and enjoy the longer days. Activities such as decorating your own Easter eggs are easy and fun to do – all you need is a box of organic eggs and some paints or pens, free of toxins, which most children’s brands offer.
Baking is also something to bring people together, and using organic ingredients – you could make a delicious Easter cake. If you’re not a baker, perhaps treat yourself to an organic cake made to order. If you like to be outside give a themed scavenger hunt a try – the Woodland Trust have a nature-themed list of items for children to find, plus other fun Easter activities to take part in here.
Happy Easter from the lastinghealth team.
More information
lastinghealth will soon be launching the Everyday Chemicals Test to help individuals identify their exposure to 27 different chemicals in everyday use, including phthalates and pesticides.
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