Does chocolate contain cholesterol ?

Cholesterol is mostly found in animal products. As a plant-based product, cocoa butter contains only a small amount of cholesterol. As a result, dark chocolate contains a very small amount of cholesterol (less than 5 mg/100 g). As milk chocolate and white chocolate contain milk powder they contain a bit more cholesterol, however those quantities remain small. Milk and white chocolate contain around 15 and 20 mg of cholesterol per 100 g respectively. As a comparison, the level of cholesterol in eggs is slightly less than 380 mg per 100 g(1).

Additionally, it is becoming increasingly accepted that dietary cholesterol has minimal influence on blood cholesterol². For instance, in the new American dietary guidelines, cholesterol is no longer considered a nutrient of concern(3).

1. CIQUAL. French food composition database. 2016 https://pro.anses.fr/TableCIQUAL/index.htm
2. The Role of Dietary Cholesterol in Lipoprotein Metabolism and Related Metabolic Abnormalities: A Mini-review. Kapourchali FR, Surendiran G, Goulet A, Moghadasian MH. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Oct 25;56(14):2408-15. Review
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary. Guidelines for Americans