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FDA Considers Redefining Chocolate
shewfig writes "The US Food and Drug Administration is considering redefining 'chocolate' to allow substitution of vegetable oil ($0.70/lb.) for cocoa butter ($2.30/lb.), and whey protein for dry whole milk. There are already standard terms to differentiate these products from chocolate, such as 'chocolatey' and 'chocolate-flavored.' The change was requested by the industry group Chocolate Manufacturers of America. Leading the resistance to this change is high-end chocolate maker Guittard, with significant grass-roots support from the Candyblog. The FDA is taking consumer comments until April 25. Here is the FDA page on the proposed change, which oddly enough does not say what the proposed change is."
It figures. Since this is /. an article on the FDA trying to regulate something healthy doesn't show up, but chocolate does. (This is a joke for the humor-impaired.)
Seriously, the FDA is Attempting to Regulate Supplements, Herbs and Juices as "Drugs". This is very important. The Big Pharmaceutical corporations have been trying to get natural medicine banned for years. Instead of taking herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other natural and very inexpensive remedies, Big Pharma wants to drug everyone. Medical costs are already skyrocketing here in the US - we should have the freedom to choose whatever kind of treatment we want, not be forced into one choice: corporate drugs.
Chinese medicine (herbs, acupuncture, etc.) has been around for thousands of years. People have been curing themselves long before Big Pharma pushed all of their drugs on us. It absolutely upsets me that the FDA, another alphabet-soup agency, doesn't work for "we the people" but instead for the very top elite executives of Big Pharma.
Besides, it's already been shown that Big Pharma's drugs cause heart attacks: VIOXX was pulled, then later added back (with a stronger warning) after Merck complained it was losing to much $$$. The Chinese, and others, have been using herbs since recorded history. Their track record is substantially better than today's drugs. Look at all of the commerials: Warning! Do not take if you suffer from high blood pressure, constipation, irritation, etc., etc., etc. May cause: nausea, drowsiness, upset stomach, etc., etc. Severe side-effects may include: liver damage, kidney damage, stroke, and in some cases death. What are the warnings on herbs and vitamins? None! If you take too much the most you'll get is a tummyache. Evolution did not happen overnight. Man (and animals) evolved with the environment which included herbs. These genetically-engineered drugs completely take evolution out of the picture. It's no surprise there are all of these negative side-effects. We're f'ing with Mother Nature.
And then just take a look at the environmental damage we are doing to Earth. We are just like every other animal on Earth. As we overshoot our planet's carrying-capacity, Mother Nature will "cull the herd."
God, you "all natural" medicine freaks are about as bad as those Scientologist.
I'd rather be called a "medicine freak" than a "druggie."
Misa no botha with yousa.
Yeah, totally agree about M&M's--I mean, they're only an incredibly popular candy inside and out of America--what inedible crap. Way too proletariat for me.
De gustibus, non est disputandum...
Isn't Ghiradelli really just re branded Nestlé though?
Can you be Even More Awesome?!
Find me a decent MAJOR wine label that doesn't say in bold "CONTAINS SULFIDES". And yes, I know wine naturally contains sulfides, but I don't think that the labeled bottles are indicating that.
The quality of food and drink in the US has been going steadily down since, well since forever. There are more chemicals (MSG, Aspertame, Preservatives), cheap semi-toxic fillers (Any partially hydrogenated oil), and re-used byproducts in our food than there has ever been. The FDA is basically a rubber stamp for a few corporations who prey on the masses inability to find food sources that are anything but super convenient.
Consequently, there has also been a rise in Cancer, in Obesity, in every type of human health problem that we know of.
And consequently there is a huge movement and desire among consumers to have organic foods available.
The sad reality of the situation is that THE NUMBERS ARE IN. And these corporations are quickly and efficiently KILLING US ALL. The FDA should already KNOW that, and should already ban pretty much every product on the shelves in favor of a healthy, more natural alternative. But we know longer live in a democracy, or maybe never did, so the FDA doesn't actually work for the American people anymore, but AGAINST us.
If you see it any other way, I'm sorry, but you are a complete and utter moron with no knowledge about the topic.
rhY
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
I dunno, I'd take Hershey's over that Cadbury crap any day. I don't like most other american chocolate though, certainly not all the generic stuff at the drug store.