391747 Sat Apr 14 16:42:23 -0700 2007 6 33 Food Media and News 0 2481339 Apparently the processed food industry is trying to get the U.S.F.D.A. to lower the standards on chocolate, allowing for the substitution of vegetable oils and milk proteins for cocoa butter and real milk. See's Candy and Guittard Chocolate Company are trying to fight this, according to an article in the LATimes today: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chocolate14apr14,1,3755183.story The Food and Drug Administration has a public comment period open right now, but it closes April 25. Guittard has created a web site where consumers can go to facilitate sending their comments in to the FDA: http://dontmesswithourchocolate.guittard.com/ If the standards change it will not preclude anyone from continuing to adhere to the former, more stringent standards, but we know all the big food processors are going switch recipes to save some money. Hershey's is also apparently supporting this change, I am thinking maybe so that most of the competition will reformulate to the lower quality, including Hershey's lower end stuff, and then it might improve the market for their recent higher end line. Sat Apr 14 16:42:23 -0700 2007 10059 ChinoWayne 1 2482087 Please see current thread "FDA changing chocolate rules?" at http://www.chowhound.com/topics/387709 Good links, ChinoWayne... Sun Apr 15 01:26:57 -0700 2007 2481339 18222 maria lorraine 1 2482097 They can always make chocolate-flavored cheapstuff, as long as they don't call it "chocolate". Let's see, what should they call it? Chocoveeta? Chocofaux? Cocoalow? Sun Apr 15 02:03:06 -0700 2007 2481339 13619 Sharuf 2 2487426 As if the quality of American chocolate isn't bad enough. Sharuf, would 'Crapolate' work? Mon Apr 16 20:30:33 -0700 2007 2482097 70519 captainshen 2 2487593 Mockolate...like on friends Mon Apr 16 22:04:29 -0700 2007 2482097 46161 spinach 1 2538267 Hello Everyone, The deadline to write into the FDA has been extended....You can now write in until June 25! So take advantage of this and tell some friends to write in... Robert Thu May 03 10:57:35 -0700 2007 2481339 77989 aguynamedrobert 1 2538903 there's always the ingredients list. i wouldn't buy most of what is marketed as "chocolate" now. unfortunately, always have to read the ingredients list any time i buy anything prepared. Thu May 03 13:19:34 -0700 2007 2481339 11190 fara