Charlie Brooker in the London Guardian scathingly labeled “American chocolate as nothing short of revolting”. To be fair his comments relate to the Kraft takeover of the UK’s beloved Cadbury. When Brooker describes a Hershey bar by saying, ” I was plunged mouthwards into an entire universe of yuck”. He goes on to describe the taste as cardboard like but with a nastier texture “as though this was a chocolate bar that had been found in the pocked of a Civil War soldier and preserved specifically for my disenchantment”
Poor Charlie, he must have forgot that the UK held up the formation of the European Union over the definition of chocolate. You see, America only allows something to be called chocolate if it is made solely from cacao-chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and sugar-that is it. In the UK they allow the addition of cheaper, vegetable oil, to cut costs. When the EU was formed, most of Europe wanted the definition of chocolate to exclude vegetable oil. But the gourmands in Great Britain wouldn’t have it. So now, yes, in the EU you are allowed to add up to 5% vegetable oil to your “chocolate”. So Charlie perhaps there is good news afoot, maybe the quality of your beloved Cadbury will actually get better!
So, why does America have such a bad rep when it comes to chocolate? I have my thoughts, but I welcome yours.