Debased chocolate. I take back everything good I've ever said about the FDA. Read this from the Modesto Bee:
The federal Food and Drug Administration is proposing to redefine the very essence of chocolate and to allow big manufacturers such as Hershey to sell a bar devoid of a key ingredient — cocoa butter. The butter's natural texture could be replaced with inferior alternatives, such as vegetable fats. And consumers would never know.
Chocolatier Gary Guittard said it best: "No one can afford to sit back and eat bonbons while America's great passion for chocolate is threatened."
For every defender of traditional chocolate, there are powerful proponents who want to replace cocoa butter with vegetable oil: the Chocolate Manufacturers Association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Snack Food Association. These industry titans have filed a "citizens petition" to the FDA, as the Los Angeles Times recently reported, as if there were some groundswell in society to water down chocolate.
At the moment, chocolate requires two basic ingredients — cocoa and cocoa butter. Cocoa provides much of the flavor; cocoa butter, the texture. So if, say, Hershey wanted to make a chocolate bar without cocoa butter, it can under today's rules. The product has to be labeled "chocolate flavored" (for it still has the cocoa in it) rather than "chocolate." That gives the consumer a signal that something less than chocolate lies beneath the wrapping. To help defend chocolate, visit www.dontmesswithourchocolate.com and learn how to submit feedback to the FDA.
There's still a day left for public comment. Here's the link to Don't Mess With Our Chocolate.
All this for chocolate, you say. No -- it's another give-away to corporate interests by the government. The report is that this action was initiated by large trade organizations:
The U.S. Chocolate Industry, through its Chocolate Manufacturers of America (CMA), and in collaboration with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, have petitioned the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to change the current requirements for chocolate.
To date, the FDA has only heard from the chocolate industry. But, the FDA absolutely must hear from those consumers who love the current gold standard of chocolate so that the FDA can have a more balanced viewpoint. If the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association succeeds with their agenda, the consumer will inherit what is most lucrative for them to produce rather than the high quality product we all currently enjoy and desire.
If, like me, you're tired of having the standards for food labeling changed to accommodate the bottom lines of big agriburisness and food manufacturers (who, after all, do such a good job of insuring quality and safety of their products), get hold of the FDA right now. Here's a link to the "How To Help" page at DMWOC, which includes a sample comment form and letter (remember to be nice), and to the FDA's public comment site.
Here's my comment:
Docket # 2007P-0085 Adopt Regulations of General Applicability to all Food Standards that would Permit Deviations from the Requirements of the Individual Food Standards of Identity
Dear FDA:
I solicit your support against the proposed and pending changes to chocolate (Docket # 2007P-0085), submitted by the Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products Association (GMA/FPA) on behalf of a number of organizations including the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA). I understand that as part of this petition, the CMA has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve a change in the Standard of Identity for chocolate products to allow for the use vegetable fats in chocolate and milk substitutes and to be permitted to call the product chocolate.
I am opposed to any change in the Standard of Identity for chocolate products that allows manufacturers to further adulterate these products. I do not consider that such changes are in the interests of American consumers.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Sincerely, Robert M. Tilendis
Go for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment