So many foods are claiming to be “low glycemic” these days—including us. But what does that even mean? And where on the glycemic index do our date-sweetened chocolate chips fall? We commissioned independent testing to find out.
To put it plainly, the glycemic index gives us a standardized way to describe how carbohydrate-containing foods raise blood sugar after they’re eaten.
To ensure we could accurately measure the glycemic index of our date-sweetened chocolate chips, we commissioned third-party testing. So, here we explain how the study worked, what the results show, and how to read glycemic index studies without overreaching.
TL;DR - Third-party research shows that the glycemic index of our date-sweetened chocolate chips is low at 35.
What is the Glycemic Index, anyway?
The glycemic index, or GI, ranks foods based on how quickly they raise your blood glucose levels after eating.
Under international standards, foods fall into three groups:
-
Low glycemic index is 55 or below.
-
Medium sits between 56 and 69.
-
High is 70 or above.
Glucose sits at the top of the scale with a value of 100. (For context: White bread and cane sugar land around 68-71.)
While it’s important to know what the GI of foods are, especially if you’re diabetic or trying to maintain stable energy levels, the glycemic index only measures the blood glucose response. It does not judge overall nutrition, account for portion size, or predict long-term health outcomes. In short, GI is one part of the full nutrition picture.
How Just Date Chocolate Chips rank on the Glycemic Index
We wanted to accurately measure where our Just Date Chocolate Chips land on the glycemic index, so we commissioned a study conducted by INQUIS Clinical Research, an independent research organization that specializes in metabolic testing.
The testing followed ISO 26642:2010 (which, in technical terms, is the global standard for measuring glycemic index).
Here is how the process worked:
-
Ten healthy adults participated; each arrived after an overnight fast, ensuring stable baseline glucose levels.
-
On separate test days, each participant consumed one thing. Either a dextrose reference drink (the control). On another test day, the participant consumed a measured portion of Just Date’s date-sweetened chocolate chips (the test). The portion size of dextrose or chocolate chips was calculated to deliver 25 grams of available carbohydrate for each intervention.
-
On each test day, blood glucose was measured at multiple time points over two hours. This allowed researchers to track both the rise and fall after eating.
The glycemic index was calculated by comparing each participant’s glucose response to the reference food. Results were then averaged across the group, to standardize the result.
Glycemic Index Results: What the Data Shows
Now to the results! The glycemic index of Just Date Chocolate Chips is 35 ± 6, in the low glycemic index category. Low-GI foods are defined as those with a GI of 55 or lower.
For comparison, the dextrose reference used in the study measures at 100, the highest on the GI scale. Dextrose produces a rapid spike in blood glucose, while date-sweetened chocolate chips show a slower, more gradual increase.
Just Date Chocolate Chips contain fat, protein, and dietary fiber, which together influence digestion and absorption. These elements slow digestion and affect the rate of glucose absorption into the bloodstream.
You can kind of think of it like traffic. Pure glucose moves fast, with no stops. Mixed foods add curves and speed bumps along the way. Dietary antioxidants like the polyphenols found in dates and cacao also regulate glucose metabolism. And micronutrients like magnesium improve insulin sensitivity.
The upshot is that foods behave as a whole, not as isolated molecules. And the GI of our chocolate chips is determined by the inputs of all its macronutrients, micronutrients, and antioxidants together.
Why we pay attention to the research (and you should too)
The conversation around sugar is confusing, to say the least. And the reason is that science is nuanced.
With so many big food brands making health claims, it was important to us to have data to back it up.
The study reflects how we approach product development. We start with whole-food ingredients. Then we ask if those ingredients meet our standards, and we look at how they behave. Do they spike blood sugar? Do they offer other benefits, like antioxidants, micronutrients, and fiber? When we land on a product that meets both our health requirements and tastes amazing, then we know we have something special.
If you want to explore further, you can review our ingredients, products, and research.