The FDA is issuing new rules for what constitutes "chocolate".

The Food and Drug Administration says starting next year, chocolate with
filling must contain at least 25-percent chocolate if it is to have the word
in its product name.

The item must also be labelled as "with filling", or "processed".

In addition, chocolate products that contain more than 5-percent vegetable
oil, may not have the word "chocolate" in its product name.

The administration says currently, there are regulations in place for the
amount of cocoa butter and milk solids present in black chocolate, milk
chocolate, and white chocolate, but only those without some type of filling.

The FDA says this left out over 90-percent of chocolate products available on
the market.

Once the new regulations take effect next year, violators face up to
$4-million NT in fines.

(NS)