Sorry I’m so late with this alert. The time to act is today, April 25.
From Slashdot.org:
The US Food and Drug Administration is considering redefining ‘chocolate’ to allow substitution of vegetable oil for cocoa butter, and whey protein for dry whole milk. There are already standard terms to differentiate these products from chocolate, such as ‘chocolatey’ and chocolate-flavored.’ The change was requested by the industry group Chocolate Manufacturers of America. Leading the resistance to this change is high-end chocolate maker Guittard, with significant grass-roots support from the Candyblog. The FDA is taking consumer comments until April 25.
As you well know vegetable oil is not cocoa butter. Or as my comments on the FDA form said:
Vegetable Oil is not Cocoa butter. Permitting the substitution creates something that is chocolate like, but not chocolate. Keep the meaning in food labels so consumers can tell what they are buying. Do not implement this change.
Really, this trend goes down the path of “if it’s brown and sweet it must be chocolate.” That’s wrong. We do need truth in labeling.
If you agree make your voice heard by commenting on the FDA comment page. I encourage you to make your voice heard to keep stuff labeled chocolate actual chocolate!
I did it! I helped save chocolate! (So did Sweetie)
Thanks for the Chocolate Action Alert.
I trust you to keep us posted about important stuff like this.
Bless you.