EXTRANEOUS MATTER ANALYSIS

Market Survey: VALENTINE CHOCOLATES

Brands tested are
for the Assorted Chocolates: New England Confectionery Co.; Russell Stover; Gertrude & Hawk
for the Solid Chocolates: Palmer; Gertude & Hawk; Nestle; Hershey

Over the centuries, Chocolate is King. It is the prized gift on a holiday or special occasion. It is used in place of hard currency. Its value has withstood the test of time. In order to take advantage of this commodity, chocolate (cocoa beans) may be stored for a period of time depending upon market ($) conditions. Insects and rodents also prize the bean. If it is not stored properly, infestation will occur. Central Hudson Lab took a sampling of six companies that produce chocolates for Valentine's Day. We analyzed assorted and solid chocolate candies. We used an 8-ounce sample (225 grams) on the assorted variety (soft centers) and a 100-gram sample on the solid chocolates. a "standard" chocolate bar was added as a watermark for our evaluation. Remember that this is a very small sampling; therefore, if anything "bad" is found it is significant.

Note:
Be sure to view the Dec. 01 market survey for Chocolate Bars and Syrup.
 

Results using AOAC extraction procedures:
 
 
Assorted Chocolates
(225 grams)

 4 insect fragments
1 animal hair (3mm)
 
Assorted Chocolates
(225 grams)

 2 insect fragments
 
Assorted Chocolates
(225 grams)

 none
 
Solid Chocolates
(100 grams)

 8 insect fragments
 
Solid Chocolates
(100 grams)

 3 insect fragments
3 metal foil particles
 
Solid Chocolates
(100 grams)

 3 insect fragments
 
Solid Chocolates
(100 grams)

 4 insect fragments
 
Chocolate Bar
(100 grams)
 9 insect fragments
1 Rodent Hair (0.5mm)
 
 
 

Opinion:
There are 3 different companies in the assorted (3 samples) variety. The results are consistent from company to company. There are 3 different companies in the solid (4 samples) variety. Again, the results are consistent. An animal hair of 3mm does not have the same sanitation significance as rodent hair. The presence of metal foil indicates that foreign matter found its way into the product. Our watermark (Chocolate Bar) did not meet the standards of the Valentine chocolates. It shows evidence of rodent infestation in a raw material.


For a complete list of the FDA's Defect Action Levels for food
products, please visit FDA-CFSAN Defect Action Level Handbook.

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