Flash in the Pan

Back in April I mentioned how some large choclate manufacturers had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to redefine the product so they could substitute vegetable fat for cocoa butter. I just came across this AP story that provides a summary but also adds some interesting information. First, the request was originally made in October and buried among a group of requests to change the production standards for almost 300 foods. Also, it seems that about 1,500 filed pubic comments are running heavily in favor of leaving things as they are:

Hundreds of people have filed comments with the FDA, with the overwhelming majority seeking to keep it that way, according to an Associated Press review of the file.

Finally, interestingly enough, since 2003, the EU has allowed European manufacturers to substitute 5 percent of the cocoa butter with vegetable fat. Time to stick with US chocolate - for now.

Labels: chocolate, cocoa butter, FDA, standards