Buyers Beware: Chocolate Snacks May Be Misleading
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Chocolate Bars Are Changing: What You Need to Know
Table of Contents
What’s Happening to Our Chocolate?
Whether a bar is termed ‘chocolate’ or ‘chocolate-flavoured’ is determined by legislation, and several brands have recently fallen foul of these legal rules. If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit and enjoy a Club bar, then I have very bad news for you. The coating is now chocolate-flavoured. likewise, Penguin bars are no longer chocolate bars.
These changes have happened to save money for the manufacturer and,they say,to keep your favorite treats at an affordable price.
The Legal definition of Chocolate
Ireland and Britain have long held a derogation for milk chocolate, one of the most popular types of bar on sale. Most of us would be familiar with the term “glass-and-a-half of milk in every bar”.
This tradition led to negotiations at an EU level,which resulted in milk chocolate legally requiring at least 20% of cocoa solids.Anything less than that isn’t the real deal.
For the rest of the EU, milk chocolate must contain at least 25% cocoa solids with 14% (or more) milk solids.
| Region | Minimum Cocoa Solids (Milk Chocolate) | Minimum Milk Solids (Milk Chocolate) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland & Britain | 20% | N/A | |
| rest of EU | 25% | 14% | |
| United States (FDA) | 10% (Chocolate Liquor) | 12% | 3.39% (Milk Fat) |
How Does US Chocolate Differ?
Fans of quality chocolate have long derided the poor quality of chocolate manufactured in the US and, considering the regulations, it’s no surprise that these varieties can be so unpopular outside of America.