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Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 January 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 February 2015. It was answered by Lord De Mauley (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 February 2015 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Chocolate: EU Action

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make representations at European Union level in respect of the use of the word "chocolate" to describe products containing less than 20 per cent chocolate.

Answer

There are currently no plans to make representations at European Level on the use of the word chocolate.

The Cocoa and Chocolate Products (England) Regulations 2003 set out the composition and standards for chocolate including definitions. Chocolate shall not contain less than 35 per cent total dry cocoa solids and milk chocolate or family milk chocolate not less than 20 per cent total dry cocoa solids.

There are rules in place under the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulations EU No 1169/2011 to ensure the consumer is not misled. Quantitative ingredient declarations (QUID) apply to all pre packed foods. This means that where chocolate is a characterising ingredient e.g. a chocolate cake, the percentage of the chocolate has to be declared in the ingredients list.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4529
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Chocolate Labelling EU action
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk