So the Grocery Manufacturers of America lobbying group is trying to get the FDA to change the rules for what defines "chocolate" in America. The new rules would allow manufacturers to substitute cheaper vegetable oil for cocoa butter. I would think that would kind of make chocolate not chocolate anymore, but that's just me.
Here's a Gristmill posting on the subject. I agree with its author that we're better off patronizing small producers of high quality chocolate than sitting around and sucking it up as the mass produced chocolate gets worse and worse. It amazes me how much better even mass produced European chocolate is than most if what we have here.
Try an experiment sometime. Find a European version of the Kit Kat. Around the DC Metro area, there's a chain called World market that usually has them. Taste test the European version of the Kit Kat against the American version. Big difference, huh?
Oddly enough, when I noticed this issue I just got done picking up a couple different varieties of hot chocolate from a producer called Vosges. One is an Aztec-style hot chocolate with chipotle and the other is a Paris-style chocolate chaud. I've heard that they're both fantastic. I'll post a follow-up entry once I have a chance to try them out. I think I have a Swiss Miss packet around that I could do a head-to-head with.
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