Thank you for visiting the Don't Mess with Our Chocolate web site forum. Its purpose is to provide information regarding how to get involved in saving the real chocolate that we all love and enjoy. Through the years, consumers have had a passionate love affair with chocolate. Chocolate is an indulgence that everyone can afford, and it provides comfort, pleasure and happiness. It truly is one of the world’s most unique and special foods
However, it appears some members of the U.S. Chocolate Industry are supporting a change in the basic formula of chocolate, by allowing the use of vegetable fat substitutes in place of cocoa butter. In our opinion, these changes will adversely affect the eating, physical and nutritional qualities of chocolate, begging the question: What consumer benefit is associated with implementing such change?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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 to the standard of identity for chocolate.
Recently, the U.S. Chocolate Industry, through its Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA), along with 11 other food industry associations, have joined with the Grocery Manufacturers Association(GMA) in supporting what is called a citizen’s petition asking the FDA for approval to change current requirements for a number of food categories, of which chocolate is included. The petition has been recorded with the FDA as Docket # 2007P-0085.
While the FDA has heard from the chocolate industry, they encourage consumers to weigh in as well in order to obtain a balanced viewpoint on any such topic. If you want the standard of identity for chocolate to remain the same, please communicate your opinion to the FDA by going to the "How to Help" tab on this site. Your opinion is important and needs to be heard along with the collective voices from other consumers. We hope this effort will have a favorable impact on the FDA’s decision-making process and will cause it to reject the proposed changes recommended for chocolate.
http://dontmesswithourchocolate.guittard.com/whatsthisabout.asp
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