Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Happy New Year everyone! For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black chocolate that was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk powder... As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are vegan are the Hazelnut and Current, and the Dark Cooking chocolate. Cheers, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Last time this discussion came up it wasn't that the recipe had changed, just that they had made the questionable decision to list milk powder as an ingredient instead of a " may contain traces of " as they don't run a dedicated line for dark chocolate. I had also heard a rumour that they were looking to install a dedicated line for lactose-free chocolate by 2010. Can you cite your source that the recipe has changed? Cheers Maddy 2009/1/7 James H <james > Happy New Year everyone! > > For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black chocolate that > was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk powder... > > As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are vegan are the Hazelnut and > Current, and the Dark Cooking chocolate. > > Cheers, > James > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 On Jan 7, 2009, at 11:18 AM, James H wrote: > For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black > chocolate that was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk > powder... It is not that they added milk, but they decided to list milk as an ingredient because of the risk of cross-contamination due to the same production lines being used for both dairy and non-dairy products. There was a huge debate in vegan groups about their decision specifically, as well as the wider issue of the vegan position on " may contains " style warnings. There was a big debate on here about the latter. The recipe to Green & Blacks chocolate has not actually changed, though. They are just being honest or reckless, depending on your position, about the inevitable trace amounts that exist as a result of shared production lines. While many vegans do not have a problem with such allergy warnings, the general feeling is that Green & Black's chocolate is no longer vegan. In part because of not wanting to be seen buying products that list milk as an ingredient, and so devaluing the meaning of vegan to others, and also because they could change the recipe at any time and add milk. This is what Green & Blacks had to say last May when this was announced: http://www.greenandblacks.com/uk/information/what-has-changed-with-your-milk-all\ ergen-labelling/has-the-product-ever-been-suitable-for-vegans.html http://www.greenandblacks.com/uk/information/what-has-changed-with-your-milk-all\ ergen-labelling/why-has-the-allergen-warning-changed.html http://www.greenandblacks.com/uk/news-and-events/news/milk-allergen-information.\ html And this blog entry from last month features a letter from Green & Blacks that reiterates the point the recipe has not changed, and contains the full FAQ (from which the above were taken) which no longer seems to be on their site: http://www.heenamodi.com/2008/12/10/are-any-of-green-and-blacks-chocolate-still-\ vegan/ Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 It was just what the woman in our local health food shop told me - she's most probably wrong, given what you and Michael have said. I obviously missed all the posts on here about it!... - Gayalondiel Wednesday, January 07, 2009 11:35 AM Re: Green & Blacks chocolate Last time this discussion came up it wasn't that the recipe had changed, just that they had made the questionable decision to list milk powder as an ingredient instead of a " may contain traces of " as they don't run a dedicated line for dark chocolate. I had also heard a rumour that they were looking to install a dedicated line for lactose-free chocolate by 2010. Can you cite your source that the recipe has changed? Cheers Maddy 2009/1/7 James H <james > Happy New Year everyone! > > For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black chocolate that > was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk powder... > > As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are vegan are the Hazelnut and > Current, and the Dark Cooking chocolate. > > Cheers, > James > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 To be fair, unless you actually contacted the company, there would be no way of knowing the recipe hadn't changed. If all people have to go on is the chocolate wrapper it's no wonder everyone thinks they changed the recipe. An ingredient was added to the list, which means either the recipe was changed to include it or the previous ingredients list was incomplete. The most obvious reason is that the recipe's changed, since you don't expect them to have previously lied about their products being vegan. There's nothing on the packaging to indicate it's just another form of allergy warning. If the only information you have is the packaging it can be very confusing to know what's going on! At least G & B's are nice and clear when they're asked about it all! Anyway, Plamil's chocolate's much nicer lol. And the Organica bars (particularly the Swiss Couverture) have been easily voted the yummiest where I work! It's not like any of us will have to go short on chocolate... , " James H " <james wrote: > > It was just what the woman in our local health food shop told me - she's most probably wrong, given what you and Michael have said. > > I obviously missed all the posts on here about it!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 As far as I was aware, this came about after they sold out to Cadburys. I havent had a bar for a long time, but I thought the warning was to the effect that it was produced on a line that handles milk? , or may contain traces of..... personally , I dont see a problem with these legal type of warnings, or allergy warnings, as long as all the ingredients are vegan, the companies are bound by health and safety to ensure cleanliness, so the actual chances are very remote of there being any trace, let alone enough to be easily detected.  Peter vv ________________________________ Michael's lists <ndisc Wednesday, 7 January, 2009 11:52:28 AM Re: Green & Blacks chocolate On Jan 7, 2009, at 11:18 AM, James H wrote: > For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black > chocolate that was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk > powder... It is not that they added milk, but they decided to list milk as an ingredient because of the risk of cross-contamination due to the same production lines being used for both dairy and non-dairy products. There was a huge debate in vegan groups about their decision specifically, as well as the wider issue of the vegan position on " may contains " style warnings. There was a big debate on here about the latter. The recipe to Green & Blacks chocolate has not actually changed, though. They are just being honest or reckless, depending on your position, about the inevitable trace amounts that exist as a result of shared production lines. While many vegans do not have a problem with such allergy warnings, the general feeling is that Green & Black's chocolate is no longer vegan. In part because of not wanting to be seen buying products that list milk as an ingredient, and so devaluing the meaning of vegan to others, and also because they could change the recipe at any time and add milk. This is what Green & Blacks had to say last May when this was announced: http://www.greenand blacks.com/ uk/information/ what-has- changed-with- your-milk- allergen- labelling/ has-the-product- ever-been- suitable- for-vegans. html http://www.greenand blacks.com/ uk/information/ what-has- changed-with- your-milk- allergen- labelling/ why-has-the- allergen- warning-changed. html http://www.greenand blacks.com/ uk/news-and- events/news/ milk-allergen- information. html And this blog entry from last month features a letter from Green & Blacks that reiterates the point the recipe has not changed, and contains the full FAQ (from which the above were taken) which no longer seems to be on their site: http://www.heenamod i.com/2008/ 12/10/are- any-of-green- and-blacks- chocolate- still-vegan/ Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Happy new year... What is the source of this information? Â Peter vv ________________________________ James H <james Wednesday, 7 January, 2009 11:18:38 AM Green & Blacks chocolate Happy New Year everyone! For those that weren't yet aware, most of the Green & Black chocolate that was vegan, no longer is - they've decided to add milk powder... As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are vegan are the Hazelnut and Current, and the Dark Cooking chocolate. Cheers, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 lol I guess it shows how different we all are! The reason I like Plamil is its creaminess, and I only like really dark chocolate in small quantities. Maybe there are some supermarket own-brands of vegan dark chocolate? Surely Co-op or someone must do one. I definitely have to agree with you about the Booja Booja chocolate ice cream though. It is the nicest, most chocolatey, scrummy ice cream ever - even non-vegans have said so! , Gayalondiel <gayalondiel wrote: > > Well, it's all subjective. I can't stand Plamil, it tastes far too creamy > and soy-y. IMHO chocolate should be as dark as possible, so I have been > sadly missing the 85% and longing for a dedicated line. Although Booja > booja chocolate ice cream is serving me well... > > Regards > Maddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 I can thoroughly recommend Divine chocolate. All their chocolate is made from Fairtrade cocoa, so doesn't involve child labour like so many others do. They make two vegan bars, which are both delicious: 70% Dark Chocolate and Mint Dark Chocolate. Their website at: www.divinechocolate.com tells you which products are suitable for vegans. You can get them in supermarkets or branches of Oxfam. Happy Chocolate eating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Divine also do drinking chocolate - coincidentally I bought some today for the first time and am just enjoying a cup of same right now. Paul On 10 Jan 2009, at 12:45, hertsvegan wrote: > I can thoroughly recommend Divine chocolate. All their chocolate is > made from Fairtrade cocoa, so doesn't involve child labour like so > many > others do. They make two vegan bars, which are both delicious: 70% > Dark > Chocolate and Mint Dark Chocolate. Their website at: > www.divinechocolate.com tells you which products are suitable for > vegans. You can get them in supermarkets or branches of Oxfam. > > Happy Chocolate eating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 BTW, some of us have made new years resolutions to try and lose a bit of weight... all this pro-choccy talk isn't helping!! - hertsvegan Saturday, January 10, 2009 12:45 PM Re: Green & Blacks chocolate I can thoroughly recommend Divine chocolate. All their chocolate is made from Fairtrade cocoa, so doesn't involve child labour like so many others do. They make two vegan bars, which are both delicious: 70% Dark Chocolate and Mint Dark Chocolate. Their website at: www.divinechocolate.com tells you which products are suitable for vegans. You can get them in supermarkets or branches of Oxfam. Happy Chocolate eating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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