This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. You can read more about her take on the food industry in her second book, Feeding You Lies!
15 dollars for 8 pieces of chocolate....?! That's all I could think about on a recent trip to the mall while walking past the famous chocolatier, Godiva. I mean 15 dollars for 8 pieces of what? What is Godiva doing that make these chocolates so much more expensive than other brands of chocolate? Is it handcrafted? No. Is it made with organic milk and cream? No. What about real pure cane sugar? No. It must have real vanilla? No! (They actually use artificial vanilla made from a wood by-product!) And they obviously do not package their chocolate in a box made of real gold. So what is it?
It is marketing, marketing, marketing and trickery at its best!
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Godiva chocolate has been tricking many of us for years into believing that paying a premium for chocolate means you are getting higher quality treats, but this can't be further from the truth! Take a look at the ingredients in one of their chocolates and you’ll quickly realize what they're selling are fancy-looking cheap ingredients wrapped up in a pretty gold box.How are they getting away with this? And what about all the other popular chocolate brands, are they selling us junk ingredients too?
Let’s be real here – eating chocolate on occasion is absolutely an okay treat – but there’s a lot of consideration that needs to be made when choosing how to get your fix. Unfortunately, our food system's top priority is the bottom line so we need to pay attention to the ingredient label on every single product we buy. Chocolate can provide a daily dose of much needed antioxidants or it can be a chemistry experiment full of man-made artificial ingredients. I do not like supporting brands that try to trick me into buying questionable ingredients. Voting with your dollars is one of the only ways to voice disgust for the unhealthy chemicals in food, and it can also directly influence change by hitting the bottom line of the food companies that continue to sells us cheap, harmful, and potentially dangerous ingredients.
Just look at the ingredients in popular chocolate candy out there; they are despicable and it's why I don't buy these brands any longer, even for an occasional "treat":
Hershey's, Ghiradelli, Russell Stover, Godiva, Nestle and M&M/Mars all use unhealthy and harmful ingredients like:
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) - Princeton University found that HFCs commonly found in candy prompts considerably more weight gain than conventional sugars and is linked to obesity. The latest statistics are startling and show that 42% of us will be obese by 2030 and obesity will be the leading preventable cause of death in America by 2019. We must do everything we can to stop this slippery slope by not consuming chemically refined sugars that make us eat more than we should.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - We don't know for sure how much of these candy brand products are genetically modified since they are currently not required to be labeled in this U.S.A. (Hopefully that will change soon if Prop 37 passes in California!) But we do know that the consumption of GMO foods poses a serious threat to our health and has been linked to toxicity, cancer, allergic reactions and fertility issues. It's really hard to find a chocolate these days without the ingredient "soy lecithin," which helps keep chocolate smooth and together. Unfortunately soy is one of the most common crops to be genetically modified. And even the sugar that chocolate contains can be from genetically modified sugar beets! When buying any chocolate (or anything in general), remember to read the label just to make sure all ingredients are listed organic or Non-GMO Project verified to avoid GMO's.
Growth Hormone - Chocolate usually contains dairy, which means that unless it's organic chocolate, you are likely consuming milk from cows that have been conventionally raised with antibiotics and growth hormones. rBGH is a GMO found in cheap conventional dairy products that many of these chocolate brands use to make their milk chocolate. That means that by simply eating a piece of chocolate you or your family could be ingesting a substance that in excess levels has been reported to cause breast, colon and prostate cancers.
Partially Hydrogenated Oils (a.k.a. Trans Fat) - The 4th ingredient in Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Mint is partially hydrogenated soybean oil. This is alarming because trans fat has been shown to be deadly even in small amounts. "Previous trials have linked even a 40-calorie-per-day increase in trans fat intake to a 23% higher risk of heart disease.” 40 calories is a mere 2% of a typical 2000 calorie per day diet - and could easily be the amount of trans fat found in many types of chocolate.
Artificial Colors - We've discussed artificial food coloring a lot before, but I think it needs a little more air time, considering we are talking about chocolate - a substance that is usually white, brown, or dark brown and doesn't actually need coloring! I was floored to find coloring in Godiva's 8 piece gold box and Russell Stover's pecan clusters. When companies manufacture chocolates using chemical fillers and fake ingredients that don't have natural colors, they have to add color to trick our senses into making us think we are eating something real. The most widely used dyes are contaminated with known carcinogens, linked to cancer and known to cause hyperactivity in children. Also, watch out for "caramel coloring" that may sound natural but is not. It's often manufactured by heating ammonia and sulfites under high pressure, which creates carcinogenic compounds that are also linked to cancer.
Artificial Flavors - Thousands of secret food chemicals can be hidden under the label "artificial flavors." Some of these chemicals are actually never reviewed by the FDA because they are used in such a small amount. Food company scientists develop ways to use chemically derived ingredients that turn on and off certain taste buds depending upon the end goal - changing something from bitter to sweet, and so on. Allowing artificial flavors in your diet gives these scientists the ability to mess with your senses and trick you to like, eat, and buy more fake food than you would otherwise.
Luckily for us not all chocolate is designed to trick you or have scary ingredients. There are many choices available that are delicious and actually nutritious!
Alter Eco Organic Chocolate - This is my absolute favorite organic chocolate right now. I like to choose organic chocolate whenever possible, to lessen my exposure to pesticides. The cocoa bean, from which chocolate is produced, is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. The Dark Quinoa Chocolate bar tastes just like a "Nestle Crunch," and the Dark Coconut Toffee bar totally satisfies your "Butterfinger" craving. I have a hard time keeping these bars in the house...my husband and I seem to always fight over the last piece. Alter Eco is currently giving away an assortment of their organic chocolate bars to 10 readers on FoodBabe.com! Enter by Nov. 5th for a chance to win.
UnReal Candy - Although Unreal isn't certified organic, they make a point to choose sustainably sourced chocolate and use no GMOs, growth hormone or antibiotics in their milk chocolate. They've perfectly reinvented classic candy favorites likes M&Ms, Snickers and Reese's Peanut Butter cups without all the junk. Now only if they could do this for all the other candies out there like candy corn! They make perfectly sized mini-treats you can find at most drug stores and some Targets, which is why they made my Non-GMO candy list .
Kopali Chocolate Covered Organic Superfoods- Their organic chocolate covered goji berries are addictive and a tasty alternative to "Raisinets." I love goji berries because they are less sweet and more chewy than raisins and have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any food. Antioxidants are very important because they fight all the free radicals and toxins you can accumulate in your body that cause aging and disease.
Righteously Raw-This may be one of the most health conscious organic chocolates available on the market that actually tastes good! This chocolate is completely raw and made with several types of superfoods. You are getting 100% of the benefits from eating chocolate when it is in its raw state. Righteously Raw just came out with bite size flavors that I feel great about eating everyday with no guilt because there is no refined sugar! The mint is my favorite and reminiscent of "Andes Creme De Menthe" chocolates that are full of artificial food coloring and trans fat.
NibMor Organic Chocolate -I met the founders of this whimsical chocolate company recently at a fundraiser for Prop 37 in NYC. I had honestly never heard of them or tried their chocolate before. Luckily I got a few samples to take home...and let me just tell you, they did not make it home! I ate them all on the airplane and I've been buying little boxes of their perfectly sized squares called "daily dose" ever since! The addition of cacao nibs to their chocolates adds a nice crunch and ups the percentage of real cacao you are getting per bite.
Comments have been closed on this article, which was written by Vani Hari. If you have a question or comment you can reach her at http://FoodBabe.com.
Vani Hari a.k.a. Food Babe is an organic living expert, food activist and writer on FoodBabe.com. She teaches people how to make the right purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. The success in her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her uncanny ability to find and expose the truth. To follow Vani, check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Named as one of the “Most Influential People on the Internet” by Time magazine, Vani Hari is a food activist, New York Times best-selling author of The Food Babe Way, and co-founder of Truvani. For most of her life, Vani ate whatever she wanted—candy, soda, fast food, processed food—until her typical American diet landed her where that diet typically does, in a hospital. Despite her successful career in corporate consulting, Hari decided that health had to become a priority. Her newfound goal drove her to investigate what is really in our food, how it is grown, and what chemicals are used in its production. The more she learned, the more she changed and the better she felt.
Encouraged by her friends and family, Hari started a blog called foodbabe.com and has led campaigns against food giants like Kraft, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Subway, and General Mills that have attracted more than 500,000 signatures and led to the removal of several controversial ingredients used by these companies. Hari’s drive to change the food system inspired the creation of her new company, called Truvani, where she produces real food without added chemicals, products without toxins, and labels without lies. Hari has been profiled in The New York Times and USA Today and has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, and NPR. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Finley, and daughter, Harley.
Comments
Ashleysays
I found that by sticking to chocolate with high cocoa levels you generally get less in the way of HFCS and other nasties. You also need A LOT less to satisfy the urges.
Unreal Candy is AWESOME! I had a tasting party and it was such a hit. I just bought the peanut butter cups at Michael's crafts and they were CHEAPER than the Reese Cups...WAHOO!
Critical Readersays
I am not a big Godiva fan either, but for fairnesses sake, the article is flawed by comparing apples with oranges. It would have been more helpful by just comparing different chocolate types and not by comparing chocolate with a candy bar. In terms of ingredients, a candy bar always looks bad against a chocolate bar.
Concerning the title "Death by Chocolate?" - please, get real.
I bought some ORGANIC dark chocolate, Green&Black, at Harris Teeter today & noticed that it contained 'soy lecithin'....is that bad only if its not organic?...And, what is lecithin?
Critical Readersays
Lecithin is a natural emulsifier. It occurs in every cell and for commercial purposes it is isolated from mainly soy, sunflowers, canola or eggs. Lecithin itself is not harmful to ingest. However, there might be two issues for you to consider when deciding over good or bad.
1. High-end chocolates do not contain any lecithin. Lecithin is used to speed up the chocolate manufacturing process, it saves cocoa butter and it prevents the fat to become rancid (longer shelf live). If you are an absolute gourmet you might want to go for the non-lecithin chocolates. If you just want to have a good tasting bar of chocolate and are not willing to pay $$, a bar with lecithin in it might do it.
2. Lecithin is mostly derived from soy, which can cause problems for people highly allergic to soy. Also, if you are overly concerned about GMOs, you might want to avoid it. However, lecithin is a minor ingredient in chocolate (less than 1%) and it is a product just derived from soy - I doubt, that you would ingest any recombinant DNA by eating chocolate. Organic manufacturers are allowed to use 5 % non-organic ingredients, if there are no organic versions available. That seems to be the case for lecithin. BTW, GMO-labeling efforts as proposed by Prop37 would not require any labeling of GMO-soy lecithin.
Elizasays
thanks!!
Annasays
Seems like every time I think it there is a post about it :) I know there are a lot of bad items/ingredients/chemicals in certain foods but our kicker is trans fats and has been for years. Unfortunately for everyone it is A LOT of work to try to balance eating healthy and keeping in a budget, but anything that is done is a huge improvement. With Halloween we didn't want to go overboard with the reasons why things were "blacklisted" so I chose to talk to my 3 yr old about trans fats. She is super curious and retains so much. We seperated all of her trick or treats into the ok pile and then off limits pile. The ok pile still is candy but free of trans fats, which made me happy. She knows that trans fats are fake and terrible for your body. Now she goes overboard and asks does that have trans fat? Cute! Not sure how Grandma is feeling about that though....
Unreal candy would have been a great option last night while handing out candy. I refused to compromise on my values for food, so I found some Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops were very good. Ah well, next year I will be prepared. Thanks Food Babe and Lisa for this post! You two rock :)
Trishsays
Oh...looks so delish! I usually buy Lindt 90% cocoa dark chocolate...but these look yum!
Aprilsays
Has anyone looked at the ingredients in Xocai Chocolate? They claim it is "healthy" chocolate. I have a family member selling it and it seems like a great option. I would love anyone's thoughts or comments if they have tried it or read about it. They have sugar listed in the ingredients, but claim it is natural sugar... and what is Lecithin?
Critical Readersays
My personal opinion, it is a scam. Firstly, I do not like this pyramid selling scheme. Secondly, IMHO it is way overpriced and not even real chocolate. It is chocolate fortified with antioxidants, omega-3 oils and vitamins. You could get the same by buying a regular bar of dark chocolate and a bottle of multivitamins for a fraction of the cost.
Lecithin - it is an emulsifier, used to make chocolate production cheaper (saves cacao butter, the most expensive ingredient of chocolate; increases longevity; makes it smoother; makes production time shorter), high-end chocolates normally do not contain any lecithin. For chocolate, mostly soy lecithin is used, sometimes also from canola or sun flowers.
Christinasays
I am so excited that I found your blog. I am always looking for clear information on the products they contaminate our food with. Thank you for putting this information out into the world. I look forward to reading more.
Tina@theunprocesssays
Thank you for this excellent and informative post. I love all the chocolate recommendations. Can't wait to try them out :)
Gigisays
I love the Trader Joe's Organic 73% Cacao Super Dark chocolate... though it is not for the faint of heart! It is an intense dark chocolate, but I love that it doesn't have any soy lecithin or other weird things I can't pronounce in it. It's a good pick for any chocolate lover!
Kristisays
Anyone looking for high quality, no phony baloney chocolate, try ordering some Fran's Chocolates from Seattle-the salted caramels are drool-worthy!
charity dasenbrocksays
Plus, I think it's worthy to mention the whole Fair Trade issue. Godiva uses children/slaves in their chocolate business. Please do research on the individual companies whose chocolate you like and look for the Fair Trade certification!
http://www.shamanchocolate.com ( no small sizes for Halloween but delicious! Fair Trade, organic, and 100% gets donated to a worthy cause)
Adelasays
Any reviews on Purdy? Thank you.
Sarahsays
Nice in theory.. except all we have is Walmart and the local grocery store. None of those 'specialty health stores' like Trader Joe's or WholeFoods. And even if we did, there's no way I can spend that kind of money (that other noters have commented on) for a little chocolate--not with not being able to work. I have very little money left each month after paying bills. I have to go for what is cheap.
We'll talk when all these organic and high quality foods are priced more reasonably.
Meredithsays
You can buy Green & Black's Organic chocolate at both Publix and Walmart. It is not only certified organic, but also fair trade certified. You don't need to go to a specialty grocery store to buy good quality chocolate, you just need to be willing to check the labels. Yes, it is more expensive than standard chocolate, but that just means you won't be tempted to eat too much of it!
Sarahsays
We don't have Publix. I looked online because I had never heard of Green & Black's. It says there are two options available in my local store but they are both very much dark chocolate, which my stomach does not tolerate. I'll have to check next time I am there (which isn't often--I am mostly bedridden and my mom does the shopping) to see if there is any milk chocolate options.
Amandasays
You provide great information in helping consumers make informed decisions. Here's to hoping I win the AlterEgo chocolate!!!
Jessicasays
Our best local chocolate is Moonstruck. Mmmmm. :) No corn syrup at all in the dark (68%). (That's the only one I looked at.) :)
Namratasays
Good job on this one!
I recently started reading labels on my favorite chocolates (Lindt) and was shocked to see the number of junky additives in it. I've started buying chocolates now from Trader Joe's (organic or otherwise). They have a great selection and no junk. On one of them, I was pleasantly surprised to note that they used turmeric and beet juice for color. Love Trader Joe's!
no gluten, no soy, artificial dyes, hormones, no refining... Their ingredients are simply cocoa, palm sugar, and sea salt, and their ingredients are organic. It is amasaing chocolate and very dark (65-75%). They are a smaller company, though, so their prices might be a little higher than what you expect. For the record, it is totally worth it.
Kendrasays
How about DeBrand chocolates?
Robinsays
Thanks for listing some better options. I like coming away from posts like these with an idea of something that we could eat.
Susan Greenesays
The study you reference above is in rats - they gained "significantly" more weight eating HFCS vs cane sugar. That's statistically significant meaning that up up to 5% of the time this result would have been seen by chance (p<0.05). And we are talking 477 grams ve 502 grams with confidence intervals of 9 grams and 11 grams respectively. This is not evidence that HFCS is evil and will make you and your kids fat.
Ashleysays
It's not just about it making kids fat. Sugar in general is bad for you, spikes your blood sugar and has nothing nutritious in it at all. It's an empty food! It's hilarious that you're even defending sugar.
Susan Greenesays
That's why you have a pancreas - so your body can stabilize your blood sugar. In my practice it dries me crazy how many parents come to me thinking sugar should be avoided at all costs. It's crazy.
Susan, I'm not sure what type of "practice" you have, but your comments on HFCS and sugar are shocking. My family does not avoid sugar at all costs, but we do avoid HFCS. Given that the average American diet is sustained on processed food and HFCS (or some form of sugar) is in almost EVERY processed food, your earlier comment that "HFCS a few times a week will not kill you" is a disgrace coming from a "practioner".
Kristensays
Opps....I meant "practitioner" :)
Jennysays
My favorite is Seattle-based Theo Chocolate http://www.theochocolate.com/, which uses organic, fair-trade ingredients. They have an incredibly variety of flavors!
stephaniesays
I think I could live on dark chocolate. ;) How do the Endangered Species chocolates compare?
Afysays
Great info as always! Where do you get these products?
Food Babesays
Try Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Healthy Home Market... and I know mainstream stores like Walgreens and Target sell UnReal. Good Luck!
Susan Greenesays
High fructose corn syrup a couple of times a week will not kill you. This post is ridiculous - it's a treat, you don't have it daily, it's okay to eat "bad" things every now and then.
Ashleysays
Come back in 20 years and tell me how your health is. The GMO's in HFCS are horrible too. I don't eat perfect, but HFCS is one ingredient I've learned to avoid.
Michellesays
Hi FB. How about See's candies? They are my favorite. I'm guessing their ingredients are not great either :/
Laurasays
Awesome advice! Thanks! I have a question though (and I'm sure I could google it) BUT what kind of sugar do I need to buy? Is it okay to buy Pure Cane Sugar at the store or does it have to be organic to avoid the GMO's? Does the sugar they sell in the the store contain the sugar beets that are genetically modified? We don't use a lot of sugar to begin with, maybe just a small amount in my coffee in the morning but it adds up! Thanks to the both of you for your blogs and advice. Sure has changed our families eating habits!
Food Babesays
I prefer organic coconut palm sugar - it's the least processed of the bunch and retains more mineral and vitamin content than pure cane sugar. It also does not spike your blood sugar like other sugars do. Pure cane sugar cannot be GMO (because it comes from sugar cane) - but if it's labeled as just "sugar" it can be made from GMO sugar beets. And anything labeled "organic" is not GMO. Good Luck!
Julieanne Millersays
I'd love to try some of Alter Eco's chocolate - but at $25.99 for three candy bars?
Eeek! I think I'll pass, and just happily munch unhealthy chocolate on occasion.
I love to eat healthier foods, but for my family, there has to be a good balance between healthy options and price, and this seems way over the top for a candy bar, in my opinion.
Thank you for letting us know about some of the healthier options, though! :)
Food Babesays
Enter the giveaway to win a chance to try it... maybe not in your budget still, but it's a few servings per bar - they are rather large.
Ashleysays
Alter Eco chocolate bars are only $4 each at Whole Foods. I just grabbed some last night! They are FABULOUS by the way. The coconut toffee is AMAZING!
Jamiesays
I have also found them for around $4.00. My husband and I both love the Dark Chocolate Quinoa. I tried a plain dark chocolate and loved that also.
Jacquelinesays
Thanks for this information, FB! Looking forward to trying some of the UnReal products, perhaps on sale after Halloween! Also, I am curious what your thoughts are on Trader Joe's Organic chocolate bars. I enjoy the 73% dark ones very much with a little homemade nut butter! Thanks for all you do ... we need more people out there like you :)
Food Babesays
That's a great idea! Totally checking the for sale bins at Target tomorrow.
David Lowerysays
Thank you for all that you do
Susansays
What about Think Chocolate over in the Ballantyne area? They say "all handmade with no hydrogenated oils"...just curious if you have looked into their products.
Thanks!
A dudesays
I think food babe is an extremist. I follow your site closely and it has positively changed the way my family and I eat and look at food, but this is the real world. There are toxic chemicals in the water we drink. I am a firm believer that many diseases today are preventable by making smarter choices but to what extent? Living life in fear of anything, including food, is just as unhealthy.
I don't think she portrays the kind of image your site should want to be associated with. Her mission is a great one, but her execution sucks and I think it makes all of us who try to make smart choices and educate others look like crazies.
Food Babesays
Sorry you feel that way - I don't want anyone to live in fear - I want everyone to know the truth so they can make better choices, vote with their dollar and hold food companies responsible for what they are doing to us collectively as a society. The more people know, the more change will come.
Anonymoussays
A Dude- you're right, we can't avoid the toxins that are leaching their way into every part of our lives, but we sure can try to not eat or support GMOs! There's nothing extreme about seeking out real food. I, for one, like to vote with my money. Just sayin'.
Kittsays
Food Babe isn't extreme. The garbage they've put in our food is what's extreme. We're conditioned to think it's normal, but it isn't. People keep saying things like, "Oh, people didn't have food allergies like now when I was a kid!" They're right - because something's changed. Our food supply. As a sufferer of serious food allergies, I'm just plain pissed that I was raised on this kind of chemical crap. I'm healthier after cutting it all out, but am still struggling with issues I have no clue if I can ever fix. Maybe your issues will kick in later in life and you'll just attribute them to age, but there IS a price for eating this crap. THAT's the "real world."
Stephanie.Nicolesays
Thanks so much for posting this! It's been a recent topic of discussion in our home, especially with Halloween upon us. I know this isn't the topic of your blog, but another thing to consider when choosing chocolate is whether or not it's fair-trade. The chocolate industry is one of the most exploitative in the world, right up there with coffee and sugar, and usually uses child labor so they don't have to pay them as much (while the children's parents go jobless). Anyway, just a thought!
Food Babesays
I could do a whole post on that subject! I've actually written about this before - check it out!
Also all the chocolate I recommend is sourced sustainably and fair trade.
Esthersays
It seems like most of the orgnic chocolate bars are dark chocolate. I am NOT a dark chocolate lover. I would rather eat something else than choose dark chocolate. Are there options that are milk chocolate or is every milk chocolate option a bad option?
Food Babesays
Alter Eco makes a fantastic milk chocolate! And Endangered Species does too (not pictured)
Food Babesays
Totally Agree Mallory... but felt it was necessary to mention there are alternatives to other junk chocolate that includes harmful ingredients as discussed in the post. Not sure if milk powder or soy is going to hurt anyone - unless it has 1. growth hormone & antibiotics 2. GMOs - UnReal guarantees their chocolate is free of both.
Mallorysays
I think it's worth noting that a lot of the Unreal candy bars still have a lot of ingredients that I don't consider "real food." Milk powder and soy lecithin are still processed. :( I know these are better than the alternatives, but I don't want anyone misled into believing these ingredients are Real Food.
Ashley says
I found that by sticking to chocolate with high cocoa levels you generally get less in the way of HFCS and other nasties. You also need A LOT less to satisfy the urges.
Vickie says
This is my favorite local organic chocolate. Superior to any I've tasted.
http://theochocolate.com/
Heather Novak says
Unreal Candy is AWESOME! I had a tasting party and it was such a hit. I just bought the peanut butter cups at Michael's crafts and they were CHEAPER than the Reese Cups...WAHOO!
Critical Reader says
I am not a big Godiva fan either, but for fairnesses sake, the article is flawed by comparing apples with oranges. It would have been more helpful by just comparing different chocolate types and not by comparing chocolate with a candy bar. In terms of ingredients, a candy bar always looks bad against a chocolate bar.
Concerning the title "Death by Chocolate?" - please, get real.
Colleen Grossner says
SO sad! Well, you can just make your own! YUM! It's SO easy AND mouth watering!! http://fresh-you.blogspot.com/2012/08/dig-into-dark-chocolate-homemade-in-dash.html Enjoy your treat!!!
Eliza says
I bought some ORGANIC dark chocolate, Green&Black, at Harris Teeter today & noticed that it contained 'soy lecithin'....is that bad only if its not organic?...And, what is lecithin?
Critical Reader says
Lecithin is a natural emulsifier. It occurs in every cell and for commercial purposes it is isolated from mainly soy, sunflowers, canola or eggs. Lecithin itself is not harmful to ingest. However, there might be two issues for you to consider when deciding over good or bad.
1. High-end chocolates do not contain any lecithin. Lecithin is used to speed up the chocolate manufacturing process, it saves cocoa butter and it prevents the fat to become rancid (longer shelf live). If you are an absolute gourmet you might want to go for the non-lecithin chocolates. If you just want to have a good tasting bar of chocolate and are not willing to pay $$, a bar with lecithin in it might do it.
2. Lecithin is mostly derived from soy, which can cause problems for people highly allergic to soy. Also, if you are overly concerned about GMOs, you might want to avoid it. However, lecithin is a minor ingredient in chocolate (less than 1%) and it is a product just derived from soy - I doubt, that you would ingest any recombinant DNA by eating chocolate. Organic manufacturers are allowed to use 5 % non-organic ingredients, if there are no organic versions available. That seems to be the case for lecithin. BTW, GMO-labeling efforts as proposed by Prop37 would not require any labeling of GMO-soy lecithin.
Eliza says
thanks!!
Anna says
Seems like every time I think it there is a post about it :) I know there are a lot of bad items/ingredients/chemicals in certain foods but our kicker is trans fats and has been for years. Unfortunately for everyone it is A LOT of work to try to balance eating healthy and keeping in a budget, but anything that is done is a huge improvement. With Halloween we didn't want to go overboard with the reasons why things were "blacklisted" so I chose to talk to my 3 yr old about trans fats. She is super curious and retains so much. We seperated all of her trick or treats into the ok pile and then off limits pile. The ok pile still is candy but free of trans fats, which made me happy. She knows that trans fats are fake and terrible for your body. Now she goes overboard and asks does that have trans fat? Cute! Not sure how Grandma is feeling about that though....
WebPixie says
I just heard of these and I'm going to check them out. http://ochocandy.com/
Shannon Brown says
Unreal candy would have been a great option last night while handing out candy. I refused to compromise on my values for food, so I found some Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops were very good. Ah well, next year I will be prepared. Thanks Food Babe and Lisa for this post! You two rock :)
Trish says
Oh...looks so delish! I usually buy Lindt 90% cocoa dark chocolate...but these look yum!
April says
Has anyone looked at the ingredients in Xocai Chocolate? They claim it is "healthy" chocolate. I have a family member selling it and it seems like a great option. I would love anyone's thoughts or comments if they have tried it or read about it. They have sugar listed in the ingredients, but claim it is natural sugar... and what is Lecithin?
Critical Reader says
My personal opinion, it is a scam. Firstly, I do not like this pyramid selling scheme. Secondly, IMHO it is way overpriced and not even real chocolate. It is chocolate fortified with antioxidants, omega-3 oils and vitamins. You could get the same by buying a regular bar of dark chocolate and a bottle of multivitamins for a fraction of the cost.
Lecithin - it is an emulsifier, used to make chocolate production cheaper (saves cacao butter, the most expensive ingredient of chocolate; increases longevity; makes it smoother; makes production time shorter), high-end chocolates normally do not contain any lecithin. For chocolate, mostly soy lecithin is used, sometimes also from canola or sun flowers.
Christina says
I am so excited that I found your blog. I am always looking for clear information on the products they contaminate our food with. Thank you for putting this information out into the world. I look forward to reading more.
Tina@theunprocess says
Thank you for this excellent and informative post. I love all the chocolate recommendations. Can't wait to try them out :)
Gigi says
I love the Trader Joe's Organic 73% Cacao Super Dark chocolate... though it is not for the faint of heart! It is an intense dark chocolate, but I love that it doesn't have any soy lecithin or other weird things I can't pronounce in it. It's a good pick for any chocolate lover!
Kristi says
Anyone looking for high quality, no phony baloney chocolate, try ordering some Fran's Chocolates from Seattle-the salted caramels are drool-worthy!
charity dasenbrock says
Plus, I think it's worthy to mention the whole Fair Trade issue. Godiva uses children/slaves in their chocolate business. Please do research on the individual companies whose chocolate you like and look for the Fair Trade certification!
http://www.shamanchocolate.com ( no small sizes for Halloween but delicious! Fair Trade, organic, and 100% gets donated to a worthy cause)
Adela says
Any reviews on Purdy? Thank you.
Sarah says
Nice in theory.. except all we have is Walmart and the local grocery store. None of those 'specialty health stores' like Trader Joe's or WholeFoods. And even if we did, there's no way I can spend that kind of money (that other noters have commented on) for a little chocolate--not with not being able to work. I have very little money left each month after paying bills. I have to go for what is cheap.
We'll talk when all these organic and high quality foods are priced more reasonably.
Meredith says
You can buy Green & Black's Organic chocolate at both Publix and Walmart. It is not only certified organic, but also fair trade certified. You don't need to go to a specialty grocery store to buy good quality chocolate, you just need to be willing to check the labels. Yes, it is more expensive than standard chocolate, but that just means you won't be tempted to eat too much of it!
Sarah says
We don't have Publix. I looked online because I had never heard of Green & Black's. It says there are two options available in my local store but they are both very much dark chocolate, which my stomach does not tolerate. I'll have to check next time I am there (which isn't often--I am mostly bedridden and my mom does the shopping) to see if there is any milk chocolate options.
Amanda says
You provide great information in helping consumers make informed decisions. Here's to hoping I win the AlterEgo chocolate!!!
Jessica says
Our best local chocolate is Moonstruck. Mmmmm. :) No corn syrup at all in the dark (68%). (That's the only one I looked at.) :)
Namrata says
Good job on this one!
I recently started reading labels on my favorite chocolates (Lindt) and was shocked to see the number of junky additives in it. I've started buying chocolates now from Trader Joe's (organic or otherwise). They have a great selection and no junk. On one of them, I was pleasantly surprised to note that they used turmeric and beet juice for color. Love Trader Joe's!
molly says
This retailer has super pure chocolate:
http://middleburychocolates.com/
no gluten, no soy, artificial dyes, hormones, no refining... Their ingredients are simply cocoa, palm sugar, and sea salt, and their ingredients are organic. It is amasaing chocolate and very dark (65-75%). They are a smaller company, though, so their prices might be a little higher than what you expect. For the record, it is totally worth it.
Kendra says
How about DeBrand chocolates?
Robin says
Thanks for listing some better options. I like coming away from posts like these with an idea of something that we could eat.
Susan Greene says
The study you reference above is in rats - they gained "significantly" more weight eating HFCS vs cane sugar. That's statistically significant meaning that up up to 5% of the time this result would have been seen by chance (p<0.05). And we are talking 477 grams ve 502 grams with confidence intervals of 9 grams and 11 grams respectively. This is not evidence that HFCS is evil and will make you and your kids fat.
Ashley says
It's not just about it making kids fat. Sugar in general is bad for you, spikes your blood sugar and has nothing nutritious in it at all. It's an empty food! It's hilarious that you're even defending sugar.
Susan Greene says
That's why you have a pancreas - so your body can stabilize your blood sugar. In my practice it dries me crazy how many parents come to me thinking sugar should be avoided at all costs. It's crazy.
Food Babe says
I don't think it'a all that crazy considering the effects of refined sugar.... Have you seen Dr. Robert Lustig's report? http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57407294/is-sugar-toxic/
Kristen says
Susan, I'm not sure what type of "practice" you have, but your comments on HFCS and sugar are shocking. My family does not avoid sugar at all costs, but we do avoid HFCS. Given that the average American diet is sustained on processed food and HFCS (or some form of sugar) is in almost EVERY processed food, your earlier comment that "HFCS a few times a week will not kill you" is a disgrace coming from a "practioner".
Kristen says
Opps....I meant "practitioner" :)
Jenny says
My favorite is Seattle-based Theo Chocolate http://www.theochocolate.com/, which uses organic, fair-trade ingredients. They have an incredibly variety of flavors!
stephanie says
I think I could live on dark chocolate. ;) How do the Endangered Species chocolates compare?
Afy says
Great info as always! Where do you get these products?
Food Babe says
Try Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Healthy Home Market... and I know mainstream stores like Walgreens and Target sell UnReal. Good Luck!
Susan Greene says
High fructose corn syrup a couple of times a week will not kill you. This post is ridiculous - it's a treat, you don't have it daily, it's okay to eat "bad" things every now and then.
Ashley says
Come back in 20 years and tell me how your health is. The GMO's in HFCS are horrible too. I don't eat perfect, but HFCS is one ingredient I've learned to avoid.
Michelle says
Hi FB. How about See's candies? They are my favorite. I'm guessing their ingredients are not great either :/
Laura says
Awesome advice! Thanks! I have a question though (and I'm sure I could google it) BUT what kind of sugar do I need to buy? Is it okay to buy Pure Cane Sugar at the store or does it have to be organic to avoid the GMO's? Does the sugar they sell in the the store contain the sugar beets that are genetically modified? We don't use a lot of sugar to begin with, maybe just a small amount in my coffee in the morning but it adds up! Thanks to the both of you for your blogs and advice. Sure has changed our families eating habits!
Food Babe says
I prefer organic coconut palm sugar - it's the least processed of the bunch and retains more mineral and vitamin content than pure cane sugar. It also does not spike your blood sugar like other sugars do. Pure cane sugar cannot be GMO (because it comes from sugar cane) - but if it's labeled as just "sugar" it can be made from GMO sugar beets. And anything labeled "organic" is not GMO. Good Luck!
Julieanne Miller says
I'd love to try some of Alter Eco's chocolate - but at $25.99 for three candy bars?
Eeek! I think I'll pass, and just happily munch unhealthy chocolate on occasion.
I love to eat healthier foods, but for my family, there has to be a good balance between healthy options and price, and this seems way over the top for a candy bar, in my opinion.
Thank you for letting us know about some of the healthier options, though! :)
Food Babe says
Enter the giveaway to win a chance to try it... maybe not in your budget still, but it's a few servings per bar - they are rather large.
Ashley says
Alter Eco chocolate bars are only $4 each at Whole Foods. I just grabbed some last night! They are FABULOUS by the way. The coconut toffee is AMAZING!
Jamie says
I have also found them for around $4.00. My husband and I both love the Dark Chocolate Quinoa. I tried a plain dark chocolate and loved that also.
Jacqueline says
Thanks for this information, FB! Looking forward to trying some of the UnReal products, perhaps on sale after Halloween! Also, I am curious what your thoughts are on Trader Joe's Organic chocolate bars. I enjoy the 73% dark ones very much with a little homemade nut butter! Thanks for all you do ... we need more people out there like you :)
Food Babe says
That's a great idea! Totally checking the for sale bins at Target tomorrow.
David Lowery says
Thank you for all that you do
Susan says
What about Think Chocolate over in the Ballantyne area? They say "all handmade with no hydrogenated oils"...just curious if you have looked into their products.
Thanks!
A dude says
I think food babe is an extremist. I follow your site closely and it has positively changed the way my family and I eat and look at food, but this is the real world. There are toxic chemicals in the water we drink. I am a firm believer that many diseases today are preventable by making smarter choices but to what extent? Living life in fear of anything, including food, is just as unhealthy.
I don't think she portrays the kind of image your site should want to be associated with. Her mission is a great one, but her execution sucks and I think it makes all of us who try to make smart choices and educate others look like crazies.
Food Babe says
Sorry you feel that way - I don't want anyone to live in fear - I want everyone to know the truth so they can make better choices, vote with their dollar and hold food companies responsible for what they are doing to us collectively as a society. The more people know, the more change will come.
Anonymous says
A Dude- you're right, we can't avoid the toxins that are leaching their way into every part of our lives, but we sure can try to not eat or support GMOs! There's nothing extreme about seeking out real food. I, for one, like to vote with my money. Just sayin'.
Kitt says
Food Babe isn't extreme. The garbage they've put in our food is what's extreme. We're conditioned to think it's normal, but it isn't. People keep saying things like, "Oh, people didn't have food allergies like now when I was a kid!" They're right - because something's changed. Our food supply. As a sufferer of serious food allergies, I'm just plain pissed that I was raised on this kind of chemical crap. I'm healthier after cutting it all out, but am still struggling with issues I have no clue if I can ever fix. Maybe your issues will kick in later in life and you'll just attribute them to age, but there IS a price for eating this crap. THAT's the "real world."
Stephanie.Nicole says
Thanks so much for posting this! It's been a recent topic of discussion in our home, especially with Halloween upon us. I know this isn't the topic of your blog, but another thing to consider when choosing chocolate is whether or not it's fair-trade. The chocolate industry is one of the most exploitative in the world, right up there with coffee and sugar, and usually uses child labor so they don't have to pay them as much (while the children's parents go jobless). Anyway, just a thought!
Food Babe says
I could do a whole post on that subject! I've actually written about this before - check it out!
http://m.clclt.com/eatmycharlotte/archives/2012/06/04/eat-with-your-dollars-chocolate
Also all the chocolate I recommend is sourced sustainably and fair trade.
Esther says
It seems like most of the orgnic chocolate bars are dark chocolate. I am NOT a dark chocolate lover. I would rather eat something else than choose dark chocolate. Are there options that are milk chocolate or is every milk chocolate option a bad option?
Food Babe says
Alter Eco makes a fantastic milk chocolate! And Endangered Species does too (not pictured)
Food Babe says
Totally Agree Mallory... but felt it was necessary to mention there are alternatives to other junk chocolate that includes harmful ingredients as discussed in the post. Not sure if milk powder or soy is going to hurt anyone - unless it has 1. growth hormone & antibiotics 2. GMOs - UnReal guarantees their chocolate is free of both.
Mallory says
I think it's worth noting that a lot of the Unreal candy bars still have a lot of ingredients that I don't consider "real food." Milk powder and soy lecithin are still processed. :( I know these are better than the alternatives, but I don't want anyone misled into believing these ingredients are Real Food.