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Natural Thangs

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Chocolate





Chocolate! I love chocolate... that melt in your mouth creamy rich and smooth flavor of chocolate! An interesting story from the web today and a couple of petitions that came in my email inspired today's blog.

I have a problem, a big problem, with unfair trade practices. Unfair trade means low wages for farmers and big money for corporations. Unfair trade promotes child labor as well.

The world needs to wake up - and eat better chocolates!

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A cool story - but I do not know yet if the scientists tested on animals in order to develop the new chocolates for the military or if they paid slave wages for the coco to make the new chocolates: Here's the story:


Durable, healthy chocolate developed

Australian Army scientists have invented a vitamin-packed chocolate that will not melt in high temperatures and last for years.

Scientists at the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) at Scottsdale near Launceston are working on the super chocolate for army ration packs using in harsh environments in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan.

The chocolate will be distributed to soldiers within a few months.

DSTO food technologist Lan Bui said the new product is more granular and firmer but the flavour is still appealing: "DSTO is looking at product reformulation, including new fat compounds, to improve texture and flavour, without affecting the melting point."

Normal chocolate melts at 25oC to 30oC. The new version is expected to survive meltdown in temperatures up to 49oC.

The secret to the chocolate is using fats that have a higher melting point. It is fortified with vitamins C, A and B1 (thiamine) and has added flavours to preserve taste for up to two years.

The breakthrough has a number of applications. Scientists are working with food experts on coating vitamins to keep out humidity, moisture and oxygen while allowing them to be slowly released into the body.

The DSTO is developing a milk chocolate version. Production of the prototype dark chocolate will begin within a year.


Source: Science Alert



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Recommended Chocolates that are Fair Trade, Organic and Do NOT Test on Animals:


Endangered Species Chocolates

TaraLuna Chocolates

Dagoba Organic Chocolates

Divine Chocolates

Dean's Beans Coco and Coffee

Equal Exchange Coffee, Tea and Chocolate

La Siembra Coco

Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Theo Chocolates

Yachana Gourmet Chocolates

Itchaca Fine Chocolates






Help the Chocolate Industry: Petitions Below


Help Raise the Bar on Chocolate Fundraising

Stop Mars from Testing on Animals

Mars Candy Kills




Contact the "Powers of Chocolate" - By writing or calling: you can tell them of your concerns about animal testing and you would like fair trade chocolates:



World Cocoa Foundation: bill.guyton@worldcocoa.org

Chocolate Manufactures Association: carly.zoerb@chocolateusa.org

Mars/M&M's: contact@policies.mars.com


Companies that you have to call or contact online


Nestlé: Contact Us Webpage


Hershey's: Contact Us Webpage

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The Humane Society of the United States