The Senate approved a bill that defines new minimum cocoa percentages for products sold as chocolate. The proposal now goes to President Lula for signing.
The project attempts to close a long-standing loophole in the Brazilian market, where products with low cocoa content can currently be sold as chocolate. Current legislation requires a minimum of 25% cocoa for a product to be classified as chocolate, but the new project raises this floor to 35% total cocoa solids.
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The Senate approved the bill that increases the minimum cocoa percentage in chocolates
The project goes to President Lula for signing
Milk chocolate must have a minimum of 25% total cocoa solids and 14% total milk solids
White chocolate maintains the minimum of 20% cocoa butter and must have 14% total milk solids
Chocolate powder must have a minimum of 32% total cocoa solids
The rules take effect 360 days after the law's publication
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The law requires that the cocoa percentage be displayed prominently on the front of the packaging
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The previous minimum percentage for chocolate was 25% cocoa
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Regular chocolate now requires a minimum of 35% total cocoa solids
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