Cargill delivers first chocolate with EU reduced calorie claim

A chocolate and cocoa ingredients company has unveiled the breakthrough technology behind the first chocolate to achieve an EU-approved consumer claim of “reduced calorie”.

The 30 per cent calorie reduction is double that of any other chocolate on the market and is equivalent to a saving of up to 160 calories for a 100g chocolate bar.

Cargill has achieved this innovation through applying their chocolate expertise to an innovative process using a patented blend of sweeteners, including Cargill’s zero-calorie bulk sweetener, Zerose^TM erythritol.

Zerose^TM erythritol is the only polyol which is recognised as zero-calorie, is produced by a fermentation process and does not exhibit the digestive intolerance that can be associated with other polyols. Erythritol occurs naturally in nature in fruits such as grapes, and in fermented foods and drinks, such as wine and soy sauce.

The chocolate experts at Cargill’s confectionery applications centre in Vilvoorde, Belgium, working in conjunction with the chocolate R&D team in Mouscron, have developed the formulation using extensive taste panel testing to deliver a great sensory experience.

“Unlike chocolate made with alternative sweeteners, our new reduced-calorie chocolate can achieve a calorie reduction of 30 per cent. As a result, it can carry the EU-approved reduced calorie claim,” says Blanche Olry, research and development manager at Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.

As an alternative to the reduced calorie claim, the Cargill innovation also offers two further benefits to manufacturers using chocolate as an ingredient: they can reduce the calorie level per portion; or they can use more chocolate in their product for the same calorie amount.