Category: News

Gatsby Chocolate Scores $500,000 Deal On Shark Tank

CHEWBOOM.COM

Created by Doug Bouton, co-founder of Halo Top Ice Cream, and Ryan Bouton, the first employee of Halo Top Ice Cream, Gatsby Chocolate is determined to rewrite the rules of the chocolate industry, just as its predecessor transformed the world of ice cream. According to the company, Gatsby Chocolate boasts half the calories of premium chocolate brands like Godiva, Ghirardelli, and Lily’s, with 80-90 percent less sugar, carbs, and fat per serving.

A return of chocolate-making to Marshall Field building

CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

For nearly 70 years, workers minted Frango chocolates on the 13th floor of the Marshall Field & Co. building on State Street. Frango production moved out of state in 1999 to the dismay of civic leaders and local mint chocolate aficionados. More than two decades later, chocolate has made its return to the upper floors of the building now anchored by the Macy’s department store, where candy giant Ferrero is opening its first North American research and development lab and innovation center.

Happy International Chocolate Day! September 13, 2023

 

Happy National Chocolate Milkshake Day! September 12, 2023

 

New charge spotted for chocolate chip cookies on Celebrity Cruise ships

CRUISEHIVE.COM

Guests aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class Celebrity Equinox have reported a new $2 (USD) charge for chocolate chip cookies, with a 20% gratuity added to the cost – making each sweet treat $2.40.

Chocolate for gut health? A nutritional psychiatrist shares what makes your gut happy.

CBSNEWS.COM

Emerging science tells us we are what we eat in more ways than one. Not only does the food we consume impact our gut health, our gut health also impacts our brain and other body systems. In an interview with CBS News, Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist and author of “This Is Your Brain on Food,” shared the key elements to include in your diet for boosting both physical and mental health – including chocolate!

New immersive chocolate factory will lead visitors on a journey from bean to bar

CONFECTIONARYNEWS.COM

Bitzel’s Chocolate says it is offering a ‘Willy Wonka-Style Experience’ at its new 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, when it opens its doors in Suwanee, Georgia, USA, in the autumn. Click, HERE, for more info.

Classic Chronicle: The chocolate diet

WCVB.COM

Most love it, some hate it. Where do you stand? Click, HERE, to see a most interesting report about the sweet treat that is favorited by many.

A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of chocolate catches fire on I-80 in California

WYOMINGPUBLICMEDIA.ORG

Interstate 80 near Colfax, Calif., was recently America’s sweetest motorway. That’s because a truck there carrying 40,000 pounds of chocolate caught fire. Luckily, no injuries were reported, and firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly. The incident did, however, result in a humongous pile of melted chocolate on the road. Now, how sweet would it have been to have a truck hauling marshmallows and graham crackers show up?!

Man who stole 200,000 chocolate eggs sentenced to 18 months in jail

WFTV9

A man in the United Kingdom who stole 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs weeks before Easter has been sentenced to 18 months in jail. Joby Pool, 32, stole about $40,000 worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs on Feb. 11. Pool broke into an industrial unit and took off with the chocolates in a stolen truck. Pool was sentenced to a year and a half in jail. Half of that time will be spent behind bars, with the other half on license along with the previous six months in custody counting toward his sentence.

 

Reasons Not To Take Chocolate For Granted

FORBES.COM

“Chocolate” represents a diverse category of products with distinctive and delicious flavors, often with pleasant “mouth feel,” and a range of sweetness. These items are mostly enjoyed as luxury foods and beverages, but for many people, chocolate is a “priority indulgence.” For now, these items are available and relatively affordable, but that isn’t something that should be taken for granted.

Here’s What Happens to Your Body if You Eat Dark Chocolate Every Day

PARADE.COM

If one of your health goals is to eat healthy, nutrient-rich foods, you may assume that means saying goodbye to anything chocolatey. Good news: There’s 100 percent a place for chocolate in a balanced diet—especially if you go dark.

Hundred-year-old chocolate from King Edward VII’s coronation to go on sale

YOUTUBE

A tin of Cadbury chocolates that has been perfectly preserved for 121 years will go to auction soon. The confectionery was originally given to nine-year-old Mary Ann Blackmore to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on June 26 1902. Cadbury adorned the special tins of vanilla chocolates with the two monarchs to mark the event. Blackmore kept the chocolates in tact for her entire life; her family have now brought the treats to Hanson’s Auctioneers in Derby. Auctioneer Morven Fairlie said: “If you do open the tin, it does smell of chocolate, but I wouldn’t want to risk it.”

Jordan’s Chocolake makes 680 types of chocolate

ANBA.COM.BR

Chocolate Lake Co. has a production capacity of 2,600 tons a month and exports to over 32 countries. It plans on breaking into the Latin American market.

We Have Some Really Bad News for Chocolate Lovers

THESTREET.COM

That chocolate craving is going to get harder to satisfy. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria account for nearly 75% of the world’s cocoa bean harvest. Right now, El Niño is threatening western African crops, which could create higher prices come 2024.

Theo Chocolate to close Seattle manufacturing, cut jobs amid merger

KOMONEWS.COM

Theo Chocolate is shutting down its Seattle manufacturing operations and cutting dozens of jobs amid a merger with the American Licorice Company.

Happy World Chocolate Day! July 7, 2023

 

Bill introduced to keep chocolate milk in schools

RFDTV.COM

Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, introduced legislation to stop the White House from excluding flavored milk in schools. The MILK Act, which stands for “Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids,” proposes amending the National School Lunch Act to require schools to offer flavored milk in their lunch programs. “The Biden administration wants to exclude chocolate milk from being offered at schools across America. We believe that milk should be offered, including chocolate milk,” Rep. Tiffany said. “In fact, I think it’s a great tradition. I remember back when I was in school—every Friday, we had chocolate milk.”

Chocolate is set to get more expensive as cocoa prices soar to seven-year highs

CNBS.COM

Chocolate prices have risen by 14% in the past year, according to consumer intelligence database NielsenIQ. Sugar, another principal ingredient of chocolate, is also seeing price spikes — breaching an 11-year high in April. Among the different varieties of chocolate, prices of dark will reportedly be the hardest hit.

El Niño Could Make Chocolate More Expensive

TIME.COM

Production of cocoa beans in West Africa — the largest growing region — may fall in the next season by as much as 8% on adverse weather, according to Fuad Mohammed Abubakar, head of Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company. Cocoa prices already surged to the highest in seven years this season following a disappointing harvest in top exporter Ivory Coast that worsened the global deficit.

26 Facts You Should Know About Chocolate

TASTINGTABLE.COM

CHECK THEM ALL OUT!  (click, HERE)

Chocolate lovers are left stunned to discover how Hershey’s Kisses really got their name

DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

Hershey’s Kisses are instantly recognizable as being the flat-bottom tear drops wrapped in foil. And they always have a strip of parchment paper – called a ‘plume’ – completing the aesthetic. As with many success stories, there are multiple versions of how the distinctive confectionery got its iconic name. But the one theory that seems to be most widely accepted is that it is all to do with the sound and motion of the machines that make the sweet treat. Not only does the dispenser appear to ‘kiss’ the convey belt as it deposits the chocolate but also makes a similar ‘kissing’ sound during production.

A 3D-printed tongue reveals why chocolate tastes so good—and how to reduce its fat

LEAPS.ORG

Researchers are looking to engineer chocolate with less oil, which could reduce some of its detriments to health. Learn more, HERE.

Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! June 7, 2023

 

Like Water For Chocolate: Why Cocoa Remains Hot

BARCHART.COM

Softs sector markets have taken turns rallying over the last few years, with most of the moves tied to global weather. One of the latest to make a strong move is cocoa, with the majority of key growing areas seeing weather patterns reducing production. However, supply driven markets are usually short-term meaning the dynamics of the market change with the weather.

7 Ways a Little Bit of Chocolate Can Boost Your Health

SIGNALSAZ.COM

For a combination of rich, satisfying flavor and healthy nutrients, it’s hard to beat chocolate. It’s the cacao in chocolate that provides its health benefits—as well as its unique taste. A single ounce of dark chocolate (70 to 85% cacao content) provides 42% of the iron, 56% of the copper, 24% of the manganese, and 15% of the magnesium you need daily. It also contains flavanols, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Click HERE for more ways chocolate can boost your health.

Cadbury to make major change to chocolate recipe

U105.C0M

Chocolate manufacturer Cadbury has announced its intention to make a huge change to its chocolate bars. Cadbury will create recipes using plant-based fibers in an effort to cut up to 75 per cent of sugar and fat.

Chocolate Milk Faces Potential Ban in School Cafeterias

WSJ.COM

Chocolate milk, long a school-cafeteria mainstay, could be coming off the menu. Concerned about the amount of added sugars children are consuming, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering a ban on flavored milk— including chocolate, strawberry and other varieties—in elementary and middle schools when it adopts new standards for school meals.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day! May 15, 2023

 

Chocolate: The delicious way to boost your immune system

WFLA.COM

Chocolate is one of the most popular treats worldwide. It is often associated with indulgence and guilt, but did you know that consuming chocolate in moderation can be a tasty way to boost your immune system? Click HERE to find out the various components of chocolate that can help boost your immune system, the health benefits of consuming chocolate for your immune system, the types of chocolate that are good for your immune system, and the right amount of chocolate to consume to maximize its benefits.

Chocolate doesn’t cause acne – but carrots do help you see in the dark: the best and worst health myths and wisdom

THEGUARDIAN.COM

The skin is your largest organ and has its own microbiome – its own bacteria – so the better you eat, the better your skin. Small amounts of chocolate won’t hugely impact skin health but chocolate with less sugar and dairy is better.

Chocolate addicts – Exploring the seven million British adults who claim to eat chocolate bars or similar items every day

KANTAR.COM

Latest GB TGI data reveals that 80% of adults claim to have eaten chocolate bars or other chocolate items (excluding boxed chocolates) in the last 12 months. 17% of these chocolate eaters (7.3 million people) claim to eat such products every day, which is similar to the figure for Spain (18%) but more than Germany (10%) and France (5%). A look at how the proportion of those eating chocolate every day has evolved in recent years we see a gradual but very steady rise, from 11% of adults in 2018, climbing to today’s figure of 14%. For more of the study, click HERE.

Not So Fast With That Candy Bar—Here’s How Long Chocolate Actually Lasts, According to Pastry Chefs & Experts

PARADE.COM

If you’re like most people, the chocolate in your home likely doesn’t last long. Still, sometimes we can’t eat it all in one or two sittings (even if we want to!) and then there are those candy-fueled holidays that mean even more is probably laying around (we’re looking at you, Halloween, Easter and Valentine’s Day). That’s when you may be wondering: Does chocolate go bad? How long does chocolate last? Well, the answer is dependent on an array of factors like the type of chocolate, how it’s stored and the quality of the chocolate. While chocolate definitely isn’t as perishable as those eggs or milk in your refrigerator—or the apples and bananas in your fruit basket—it can have an expiration date, so we spoke to pastry chefs and culinary experts to find out exactly what that is. Click, HERE, for more.

A Canadian woman has one month to get rid of more than 130,000 vintage chocolate bars — but is struggling to give them away before the expiration date

INSIDER.COM

A vintage candy company owner,  Crystal Regehr Westergard, has thousands of chocolate bars and has been struggling to give them away before the expiration date. The candy, which was widely beloved in the 1980s, is described as rum flavored with Caramilk inside. Westergard ordered the bars from an overseas production company, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some delays. When she finally received her orders, she got them in bulk. People are buying them, but not at a rapid pace. Westergard tried giving them to schools, and local homeless shelters — but there are still far too many. She tried to give them to the Edmonton Oilers, a professional ice hockey team, to give to fans, but they have their own contracted snack suppliers.

How Much Do You Know About Chocolate and Your Health?

AARP.ORG

Test yourself on health benefits and history of chocolate. Click HERE.

Company ignored complaints of a gas leak before chocolate factory explosion that killed seven, suit says

NBCNEWS.COM

A Pennsylvania candy maker ignored warnings of a gas leak at its chocolate factory and bears responsibility for a subsequent explosion that killed seven workers and injured several others, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Workers smelled gas that day and notified Palmer, but the 75-year-old, family-owned company “did nothing,” the lawsuit said.

Here’s why having chocolate can make you feel great or a bit sick – plus 4 tips for better eating

THECONVERSATION.COM

Chocolate has a long history of production and consumption. There are several health benefits and potential problems that come in Chocolate. Click HERE for more.

We now spend more on legal weed than on chocolate

KTLA.COM

Americans now spend more on legal weed than they do on chocolate. We now spend more on legal dope than we do on chocolate and craft beer combined. According to a new report from MJBizDaily, Americans spent about $30 billion on legal marijuana last year. That compares with roughly $20 billion spent on chocolate and $8 billion spent on craft brews.

Crews work to put out fire at former Wilbur Chocolate Co. building in Lititz

LOCAL21NEWS.COM

Crews battled a fire at the former Wilbur Chocolate Company building in Lititz. The fire was at the Blackworth Live Fire and Grill. Officials said the fire was reported just before 7:00 p.m. and North Broad Street was closed as a result. No injuries were reported in the fire.

Powerful explosion at a chocolate factory in eastern Pennsylvania

FOX43.COM

Seven bodies have been recovered from the site of a powerful explosion at a chocolate factory in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania. Rescue crews had been using heat imaging equipment and dogs to search for possible survivors after the blast destroyed one building and damaged a neighboring building.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s chocolate bars go vegan

PBS.ORG

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment. The Hershey Co. said Tuesday that Reese’s Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally. A second plant-based offering, Hershey’s Plant-Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, will follow in April.

‘Jeremy’s Chocolate’ Sells More Than 300,000 Chocolate Bars In Just Over 36 Hours

DAILYWIRE.COM

“Jeremy’s Chocolate”, the new business line founded by Daily Wire co-CEO Jeremy Boreing in response to a woke stunt by Hershey’s, has sold 300,000 non-woke candy bars less than two days after it was launched. The chocolate bars, which come in two varieties, “HeHim” and “SheHer”, were created after Hershey’s rolled out an International Women’s Day marketing campaign that featured a man who identifies as a woman as one of its spokespersons. Boreing promptly entered the chocolate business, and, in a rebuke of Hershey’s, made clear The Daily Wire would not compromise on the definition of womanhood.

Chocolate brand Toblerone to stop using the iconic swiss mountain logo

HINDUSTANTIMES.COM

The image of the Matterhorn mountain peak will soon disappear from the packaging of Toblerone chocolate bars because the brand’s US owner is moving some production outside of Switzerland to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Mondelez International Inc., which produces the triangular treat, is changing the design of the mountain depicted on the cardboard wrapper so as not to violate the Swissness Act. The design will be a more generic mountain rather than the famous Matterhorn. Packaging will now read “established in Switzerland,” rather than “of Switzerland.” Under Switzerland’s Swissness Act, passed in 2017, national symbols and Swiss crosses are not permitted on the packaging of products that don’t meet Swissness criteria.

11 Sweet Facts About Cadbury Chocolate

MENTALFLOSS.COM

To sugar-lovers in the U.S., Cadbury is best known as the maker of the cream-filled eggs that appear in stores each spring for Easter. But their full lineup of sweets includes close to 100 products that are beloved in the UK and around the world. Here are 11 decadent facts about the candy brand (click HERE).

There’s a Good Reason Europeans Think American Chocolate Tastes Like Vomit

MENTALFLOSS.COM

Hershey’s chocolate bars have a different reputation overseas than they do in America. Writing for The Guardian, Arwa Mahdawi compared the taste of American chocolate to, “sawdust that’s been drowned in sugar and soaked with baby vomit.” But bias alone doesn’t account for this perception; certain ingredients in Hershey’s milk chocolate contribute to its controversial flavor.

Teacher buried in chocolate M&M-themed casket for funeral in tribute to her ex-pupils

MIRROR.CO.UK

A retired teacher was buried in a chocolate themed M&M casket for her funeral in tribute to her former students. Ex-language and arts teacher Mary Stocks Martin, from Arizona, US, decided to build the casket with her son after her pupils used to nickname her “M&M” due to her initials. Students would often gift her M&M gifts which would fill up her classrooms, according to her family. Click HERE to see picture of the casket!

 

How China and India Could Transform the Chocolate Business

FOREIGNPOLICY.COM

A rise in worldwide consumption would test an industry built largely on exploitation. People around the world eat about 7 million metric tons of chocolate every year. But chocolate isn’t just a sweet way to end a meal or a potential present for a loved one. It’s also a $128 billion annual business that offers a window into international commodity trading, colonial history, and the consumption habits of emerging markets. Read more, HERE.

 

Who knew about fiber in chocolate?

THEGUARDIAN.COM

High-fiber chocolate won’t send your blood-sugar levels soaring the way the other stuff does. You may not have really thought of chocolate as having any fiber in it at all (though unprocessed cocoa beans are actually very high in it), and it’s not always easy to see the fiber content as it doesn’t need to be shown on the nutritional label (fiber is a carbohydrate, but only the whole amount of carbs need be shown, it’s not broken down). If you have a regular favorite chocolate, you can write to the makers and ask.

Why chocolate cravings strike a week or two before a menstrual period

NEWSSCIENTIST.COM

Premenstrual cravings for sugary or salty food may be caused by inflammation. A study suggests that women who have high levels of inflammatory markers in their blood a week or two before they start their period are more likely to crave food like chocolate. However, another researcher says inflammation may not be driving these cravings, with unknown factors potentially being involved.

How to Avoid Lead and Cadmium in Chocolate

LIFEHACKER.COM

We all likely still remember the (bad) news from this past December: A Consumer Reports investigation found 23 of the 28 dark chocolates from different brands they tested contained harmful levels of lead and cadmium. The results of the investigation made the rounds over mainstream media and is still very much in the minds of those who love the sweet treat—especially with Valentine’s Day barely behind us and Easter looming ahead. It’s important to note that the Consumer Reports’ investigation was not peer-reviewed, nor did it contain large amounts of evidence. However, it does show eerily similar levels of heavy metals compared to a study published by the FDA in 2018 as well as other peer-reviewed studies dating back to 2005. These heavy metals are dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up dark chocolate entirely. Luckily, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting these dangerous heavy metals in your system (click HERE to learn more).

UK: Thief admits stealing thousands of chocolate Easter eggs

PHL17.COM

A man who prosecutors said broke into a U.K. industrial park to steal almost 200,000 chocolate Easter eggs has pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage. Prosecutors said Tuesday that the thief used a metal grinder to break through a gate at an industrial park in Telford, central England, on Saturday, then used a stolen semi truck to tow away a trailer loaded with Cadbury Creme Eggs and other chocolate goods worth more than 31,000 pounds ($38,000).

Mars Wrigley fined by OSHA after workers fell into vat of chocolate

FOXBUSINESS.COM

Mars Wrigley was fined by federal workplace safety authorities in response to an incident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. The central Pennsylvania confectionary factory will now be required to pay more than $14,500 over the accident from June. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mars Wrigley in the accident at the Elizabethtown M&M/Mars factory. The agency said the workers were not authorized to work in the tanks and had not been trained on the proper safety procedures for the equipment. According to officials, two workers employed by an outside contracting firm fell into the partially filled chocolate tank as they were conducting maintenance work. Emergency personnel responded to the facility and were able to free the workers by cutting a hole in the bottom of the tank.

Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14, 2023

 

Why We Give Chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

ABC27.COM

When Valentine’s Day comes around, many people run around trying to buy gifts for their significant others. Flowers, cards, and boxes of chocolate are staples when it comes to this holiday. But, why chocolate? Why is that sweet treat always a staple of Valentine’s Day? To find out, click HERE.

Can You Eat Chocolate If You Have Diabetes?

EATINGWELL.COM

People with diabetes are often advised to limit their consumption of sweets and treats to help manage their blood sugar levels. But a crucial component of a healthy eating pattern is that it’s enjoyable so you can stick with it for the long haul—which means including the occasional treat is a smart move. That might lead you to wonder whether chocolate should be avoided by those with diabetes or if folks can, in fact, enjoy the beloved sweet once in a while. You can eat chocolate if you have diabetes, as long as you keep a few things in mind (click HERE).

Happy Chocolate Day! February 9, 2023

 

Chocolate chemistry – a food scientist explains how the beloved treat gets its flavor, texture and tricky reputation as an ingredient

THECONVERSATION.COM

Whether it is enjoyed as creamy milk chocolate truffles, baked in a devilishly dark chocolate cake or even poured as hot cocoa, Americans on average consume almost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of chocolate in a year. People have been enjoying chocolate for at least 4,000 years, starting with Mesoamericans who brewed a drink from the seeds of cacao trees. In the 16th and 17th centuries, both the trees and the beverage spread across the world, and chocolate today is a trillion-dollar global industry. Here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions about this unique and complex food. (Click, HERE)

Congresswoman Proposes Forcing Schools to Provide Chocolate Milk to Children

NEWSWEEK.COM

New York Republican representative Elise Stefanik has introduced a bill that would make it federal law for schools to provide chocolate milk, in a broadside against supposed plans by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to ban it over health concerns. On February 3, Stefanik introduced the Protecting School Milk Choices Act of 2023, which would force schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to offer at least one flavored milk option. The amendment to the National School Lunch Act would also provisions for schools to offer lactose-free milk. The legislation follows a row over the drink in 2022 after Adams said in January that there was a “conversation” about a possible ban. The Democratic mayor has touted his credentials as a vegan in the past and supported his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, in his efforts to ban chocolate milk in 2019 while Brooklyn borough president.

Happy Chocolate Lover’s Month! February, 2023

 

Hershey’s Chocolate World Celebrates 50 Years of Fun

PRNEWSWIRE.COM

In 2023, Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction is celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary with a full roster of exciting experiences, events, and a brand-new attraction, plus an official 50th birthday celebration on June 30, 2023. Over 117 million visitors have passed through Hershey’s Chocolate World’s doors since its official opening in 1973. For 50 years, families have delighted in the destination’s educational and entertaining attractions such as The Hershey’s Chocolate Tour, Create Your Own Candy Bar, Hershey Trolley Works, and Hershey’s Unwrapped.