Category: News

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Scientists claim to have unlocked ‘secret sauce’ needed for fine chocolate

Scientists claim to have unlocked ‘secret sauce’ needed for fine chocolate

THEGUARDIAN.COM

Results of studying cocoa bean fermentation in Colombia could pave way to manipulate flavor, say researchers. They claim to have discovered how and why the bacteria and fungi involved in the fermentation of cocoa beans influence the flavor of chocolate.

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Common chocolate ingredient could be potent flu treatment, scientists find

Common chocolate ingredient could be potent flu treatment, scientists find

INDEPENDENT.CO.UK

A new combination of drugs, including a compound present in chocolate, can treat several influenza strains, including bird and swine flu, a new study has found. The drug combination of chocolate ingredient theobromine, and the lesser-known compound arainosine, can be a potential gamechanger in treating flu, even outperforming the most widely used anti-influenza medication Tamiflu, according to the study published in the journal PNAS. The combination therapy works by targeting a key weakness in the influenza virus, a microscopic channel the virus uses to replicate and spread. Combination drug treatment outperformed most commonly used flu medicine Tamiflu, researchers say.

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The Staggering Number Of Hershey Chocolate Bars Made Each Year

The Staggering Number Of Hershey Chocolate Bars Made Each Year

CHOWHOUND.COM

The company’s website, Hersheyland.com, actually states that Hershey makes approximately 373 million of its classic milk chocolate bars each year. And while the company doesn’t reveal the exact number of bars sold annually (as it likely varies), one can surmise that it’s quite a lot.

 

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Hershey says it is hiking chocolate prices

Hershey says it is hiking chocolate prices

CNN.COM

Your Kit Kat bar and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are officially getting pricier. Hershey told its retail partners it is raising prices by a percentage in the “lower double-digit range” over what its chocolate products cost over the past couple years, a company spokesperson confirmed to CNN. The culprit: high cocoa prices. Cocoa futures rose a whopping 178% in 2024 after a 61% increase in 2023, according to data from FactSet. That’s because Ghana and Ivory Coast account for almost 60% of the world’s cocoa production, and the region has been hit by poor harvests due to weather exacerbated by climate change.

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What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Chocolate Every Day

What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Chocolate Every Day

EATINGWELL.COM

Chocolate lovers abound, but there is confusion about the popular food’s impact on health. Rich in flavonoids and magnesium, dark chocolate may support heart health and cognitive function. Chocolate can be part of a balanced diet, but overdoing it could increase cholesterol levels and sugar intake. To get more chocolate in your life, try enjoying it with berries or in your A.M. oatmeal or smoothie.

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New study finds that tea and chocolate may help lower blood pressure

New study finds that tea and chocolate may help lower blood pressure

MEDICALXPRESS.COM

We might have another reason to enjoy our daily cup of tea or small piece of dark chocolate, as a new study from the University of Surrey has found that naturally occurring compounds called flavan-3-ols—found in cocoa, tea, apples and grapes—may improve blood pressure and the health of our blood vessels.

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Toblerone dark chocolate bar discontinued in the UK

Toblerone dark chocolate bar discontinued in the UK

BBC.COM

The dark chocolate version of Toblerone’s most popular bar has been discontinued after nearly six decades on confectionery shelves. Food manufacturer Mondelēz International confirmed in a statement that its 360g dark chocolate bar would no longer be sold in the UK. The company said it understood the “difficult decision” may be “disappointing for some consumers”. It attributed the discontinuation to “changing tastes” and growing its business, adding it “continuously adapt[s]” its range and “continue[s] to invest in Toblerone”. The original Toblerone bar was first invented in 1908, with a dark chocolate version – containing 50% cocoa – released in 1969.

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Cadbury criticized for ‘outrageous’ new ‘shrinkflation’ after cutting size of popular chocolate product – while still selling at the same price

Cadbury criticized for ‘outrageous’ new ‘shrinkflation’ after cutting size of popular chocolate product – while still selling at the same price

DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

Sweet-toothed Brits have been dealt yet another blow after Cadbury quietly reduced the size of their Twirl multipacks – while selling them at the same price. In yet another example of ‘shrinkflation’, the packs, which originally contained ten bars, now contain just nine – and have been cut from 215g to 193.5g. With the confectionary typically retailing for £3, the cut means shoppers are now paying £1.55 per 100g, up from £1.40.

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Scientists develop game-changing solution as price of chocolate soars worldwide: ‘Fantastic results’

Scientists develop game-changing solution as price of chocolate soars worldwide: ‘Fantastic results’

YAHOO.COM

Researchers at Abertay University and food biotechnology firm Fermtech have created an ingredient called “Koji flour,” which can replace some of the cocoa needed in chocolate products, making food production more sustainable, according to Phys.org.

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Chocolate Market Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033

Chocolate Market Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033

GLOBENEWSWIRE.COM

The world is developing a deeper appetite for chocolate, with the global chocolate market projected to expand from US$ 138.45 billion in 2024 to US$ 205.39 billion by 2033. This growth, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48% during 2025-2033, is catalyzed by diverse factors, including heightened demand for premium chocolate, healthier alternatives, and innovative flavors and packaging. Consumer preferences are shifting towards upscale artisanal and nutritious options, with dark and organic chocolates finding particular favor for their antioxidant richness.

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Pairing chocolate with tea could have surprising health benefits, experts say

Pairing chocolate with tea could have surprising health benefits, experts say

FOXNEWS.COM

Tea and chocolate, particularly dark chocolate are high in antioxidant polyphenols, which target free radicals and can reduce the risk of cancer and have other health benefits. Healthline reports the antioxidants and flavanols in cocoa and dark chocolate can reduce inflammation and help keep the endothelial cells that line the arteries healthy. Popular teas like green tea, ginger and rosehip can also fight inflammation and prevent oxidative damage, the journal also notes.

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Chocolate recall upgraded to highest risk level: Consumption ‘could cause death’

Chocolate recall upgraded to highest risk level: Consumption ‘could cause death’

NYPOST.COM

Federal officials have upgraded a chocolate recall to the highest risk level over fears that consuming the product could “cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” Three products from Cal Yee Farm — Dark Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Apricots and Dark Chocolate Walnuts — have been given a Class 1 classification for containing undeclared milk, according to the FDA. Undeclared milk in food products can lead to serious health issues for people with milk allergies, including hives, cramps, dizziness, swollen vocal cords and unconsciousness, and cause death, according to the FDA’s update, which was issued on Jan. 22.

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Why Every M&M’s Candy Is Stamped With A Little ‘M’ 

Why Every M&M’s Candy Is Stamped With A Little ‘M’

THETAKEOUT.COM

Mars Inc. introduced the trademark detail in 1950 to distinguish real-deal M&M’s from imitations. The M&M’s name references the initials of the chocolate company’s two co-founders, Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie (both the sons of chocolate company executives). Mars bought out Murrie’s share of the company in 1946, four years before the stamp was introduced, which means we can safely assume the “m” stands for Mars.

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Why Military Chocolate Was Deliberately Made To Taste Bad

Why Military Chocolate Was Deliberately Made To Taste Bad

THETAKEOUT.COM

Giving soldiers delicious chocolate would pose a number of problems: They might eat it too soon, or they might use it as currency and trade it for other goods like cigarettes and magazines with pictures of scantily-clad women. The army wanted to avoid making these chocolate bars desirable because they were meant to keep soldiers alive in an emergency situation.

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Disgusting ingredient in American chocolate that explains why foreigners hate our sweets

Disgusting ingredient in American chocolate that explains why foreigners hate our sweets

DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

While chocolate products like a Hershey’s bar are a staple in a candy aisle, with more than 373million produced each year, consumers from Europe and the UK can barely stomach the product due to one gross ingredient – butyric acid, a compound found in human vomit.

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The nation’s favorite chocolate is ‘disappointed’ as Britain’s King Charles strips Cadbury of its royal warrant—for the first time in 170 years

The nation’s favorite chocolate is ‘disappointed’ as Britain’s King Charles strips Cadbury of its royal warrant—for the first time in 170 years

FORTUNE.COM

Chocolate firm Cadbury said on Monday it was “disappointed” after losing its royal warrant for the first time in 170 years following King Charles III’s first review of the coveted list since becoming monarch.

 

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Harvard Study: Eating Dark Chocolate Could Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes by 21%

Harvard Study: Eating Dark Chocolate Could Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes by 21%

SCITECHDAILY.COM

Dark chocolate consumption may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 21%, while milk chocolate does not show similar benefits, according to a Harvard study. A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that consuming dark chocolate, but not milk chocolate, may be linked to a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D).

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95,000 COUNTERFEIT CHOCOLATE BARS LACED WITH MAGIC MUSHROOMS SEIZED

95,000 COUNTERFEIT CHOCOLATE BARS LACED WITH MAGIC MUSHROOMS SEIZED

EASTCOUNTYMAGAZINE.ORG

Drug testing on “Polka Dot” labeled chocolate bars seized back in September by narcotics detectives from the Sheriff’s department from a Chula Vista business found that the products had been adulterated with several controlled substances, including Amanita Muscaria mushrooms, better known as “magic mushrooms,” a strong psychedelic drug and hallucinogen.

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Best time to eat chocolate, according to experts

Best time to eat chocolate, according to experts

VOGUE.IN

Eating chocolate in the morning can give you a quick energy and mood boost, burn fat and reduce blood sugar levels. Afternoons are a great time to indulge, especially when you need a pick-me-up to beat the post-lunch slump. For people who tend to live their best lives in the evening, unfortunately, chocolate cannot keep up with that lifestyle. Read more, HERE.

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Why a global cocoa crunch will sour chocolate for years to come

Why a global cocoa crunch will sour chocolate for years to come

SMH.COM.AU

Chocolate lovers already feeling the sting of high prices should brace for worse: costs will continue to rise as global cocoa supplies are at their lowest level in two decades. But spare a thought for cocoa farmers in west Africa, battling poor weather, crippling crop diseases as well as local and international governments – all while missing out on their fair share of the price hike.

 

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FDA Sampling Finds Milk in 6.2 Percent of ‘Dairy-Free’ Chocolate Products

FDA Sampling Finds Milk in 6.2 Percent of ‘Dairy-Free’ Chocolate Products

FOOD-SAFETY.COM

A recent sampling assignment conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found 6.2 percent of dark chocolate and chocolate-containing products labeled as “dairy-free” to contain milk, although all samples positive for milk were also labeled with some form of milk allergen advisory statement (e.g., “made in a facility that also processes milk”).