Tell the FDA: Don't mess with our chocolate

Yesterday, I mentioned that the FDA is considering an industry-sponsored proposal to allow chocolate manufactuers to substitute vegetable fats for cocoa butter in chocolate.

A group called Don't Mess With Our Chocolate has instructions for submitting public comment to the FDA. Click here to start the process.

Not very many people have submitted comments to the FDA, so there's a chance for a real impact. Yesterday's thread racked up almost 30 comments in just a few hours, so I know there are a lot of strong feelings.

If you're a Mac user, you must use Safari.

When you click on the "go to e-Comments" button you'll get a text box that says something like this: "Docket: 2007P-0085 - Adopt Regulations of General Applicability to all Food Standards that would Permit, within Stated Boundaries, Deviations from the Requirements of the Individual Food Standards of Identity." Click on the "Submit Comment" button, which, counterintuitively, will bring up the form to enter your personal information. Choose "Individual Consumer" from the dropdown Category menu. Type "Don't Mess With Our Chocolate" in the textbox for Organization. Then advance to the next screen to type your comment.

The deadline for comment is April 25.

Comments

[greensmile]

those instuctions work. Here's my two cents to the FDA:

The substance "chocolate" has a clear definition already. If you let the food factories add any substitutes for the cocoa fat and still label their product "chocolate" the rest of the world will stop buying american-made chocolate.

If I have to read the fine print of the ingredients on the label to see if "chocolate" really is chocolate, then I will wind up avoiding unknown brands as my eyesight is barely up to such reading. I will be forced to stick with a few products I trust imported by trader Joe or whole foods. The rest of you can have your "republican chocolate"!

[mudkitty]

Now I know the end is neigh.

Since when has the Bush Administration shied away from redefining something?

[Cranky Observer]

Generally speaking, unless such comments to federal rulemakings are properly formatted and follow the language and conventions of the subculture, they are filed away in the bin right next to the trash can.

Not to say you shouldn't submit a comment in polite plain language, but don't get your hopes up that it will influence anything.

Cranky

[Bruce]

I believe that this issue, handled with Bush-esque incompetence, could up-end Team W in a way that a fraudulently sold war, Katrina, the Patriot Act, Abramoff, Delay, Gonzales and abortion never could.

[David Dzidzikashvili]

Barack Obama is the answer to Bushism and the idiocracy of past 8 years that has governed American foreign & domestic policies. He will be able to restore the true image, reputation once America enjoyed in the world as the champion of Democracy and Freedom.

In addition, Obama has the will, energy and charisma to go against corporate politics, lobby groups and their power. We need a man who will stand up for a common man. Enough of ignorance, greed and corporate oil monopolies directing American political life. This has to END!

Obama 2008!