French purists lose chocolate war

[dArKeR]

Horrified by an EU ruling allowing the use of vegetable fat in chocolate, the French fear the end of their hallowed art

First, Christian Constant created a towering sculpture in solid chocolate, dozens of stylized chocolate bars soaring in a turbulent Michelangelesque column skyward, out of an immense cracked chocolate egg. The Renaissance of Chocolate, he called it.

Next, in early August, he draped the doorposts of his store, along Rue d'Assas in Paris, in black as a sign of mourning.

The symbols reflected the mix of emotions these days among French lovers of chocolate who know their criollo from their gianduja, and relish the difference. The symbolism became ever more complex after the monument to rebirth, softened by Paris' withering heat, slowly leaned, like some Hershey's Tower of Pisa.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/09/08/2003067017

[Kellanved]

1. Yes, Hence "chocolate Makers"

France, Belgium, Germany and Luxenbourg had the no fat other than cacao-butter ruling (as had Italy AFAIR). This practically kept British and Danish chocolate from the market, as it wasn't allowed to be called "chocolate".


Well, that and a summit in Belgium dubbed "Praline-summit".