Several African countries depend on Europe’s sweet tooth
Cocoa-producing countries in Africa could suffer heavy losses if a compromise on chocolate already agreed by European Union officials is approved by the European Parliament. The compromise is designed to end a 25-year row between members of the EU on the use of vegetable fats in place of cocoa fat in chocolate.
The new ruling would allow chocolate-makers to use less cocoa butter in their products and still call them chocolate.
Traders say the new rules could cut cocoa consumption in Europe by up to 1,000 tonnes a year, leading to estimated financial losses among developing countries of at least $500m.
