Don't mess with our chocolate!

[crowdog66]

Okay... as miserable as I am right now, the word on this STILL has to get out.

The FDA is considering changing the definition of "chocolate" to include products that do NOT contain cocoa butter and milk, but rather vegetable products and milk substitutes.

I'm sure you'll agree that this is simply not a good idea. If it passes, one consequence will almost certainly be that "real" chocolate will become a specialty item -- and thus, more expensive.

From the website below:

Chocolate is an indulgence that everyone can afford, and it provides comfort, pleasure and happiness. It truly is one of the worlds most unique and special foods.

However, if some members of the U.S. Chocolate Industry have their way, it will negatively change the quality of chocolate you love. Their plan is to change the basic formula of chocolate in order to use vegetable fat substitutes in place of cocoa butter, and to use milk substitutes in the place of nutritionally superior milk. These changes will have adverse effects on the eating, physical and nutritional quality of chocolate, and beg the question: What consumer benefit is associated with implementing these changes? The answer is none.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a chocolate standard of identity requiring manufacturers to use approved ingredients in making chocolate, and it protects the consumer from any substitution of inferior ingredients. As a result, the Chocolate Industry must obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration to make any changes.

The U.S. Chocolate Industry, through its Chocolate Manufacturers of America (CMA), and in collaboration with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, have petitioned the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to change the current requirements for chocolate.

To date, the FDA has only heard from the chocolate industry. But, the FDA absolutely must hear from those consumers who love the current gold standard of chocolate so that the FDA can have a more balanced viewpoint. If the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association succeeds with their agenda, the consumer will inherit what is most lucrative for them to produce rather than the high quality product we all currently enjoy and desire.

Click here to find out more and submit a comment to the FDA.

I've already done so, and hope that as many of you as possible will do the same. The deadline is April 25th.

Comments

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[lacontessamala.livejournal.com]

I am SO glad you posted this--I've already left an indignant comment. What a rip-off! Also, I wonder if the FDA has ever thought about how the cocoa crop undoubtedly keeps farmers in South America from turning to less legitimate crops--like, say, coca plants.

[flamingchords.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think this is a SPLENDID idea. Just this morning, I was thinking to myself, "ya know what? All those people in Europe have entirely too much respect for the quality of our chocolate! Someone ought to do something about that..."

</SARCASM>

[chimera452.livejournal.com]

It sounds like the U.S. Chocolate Industry is being very short-sighted with this petition. Real chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants, which have many health benefits. Take that away and you take away one of chocolates greatest selling points, not to mention one of our most plausible excuses for eating it.