Can Chocolate Ever be Vegan?

[Guest guest]

Can Chocolate Ever be Vegan?

 

Yikes, this information is from Dr. Agatha Thrash (a physician who promotes a

vegan diet). Please remember not to *shoot* the messenger! LOL! I'm just

sending along some information I just read in a book from the Country Life

Vegetarian Restaurant Kitchens! ~ LaDonna

 

 

" In a booklet published by the United States Department of Health, Education and

Welfare entitled " The Food Defect Action Levels, " a specifications listing of

" current levels for natural or unaboidable defects in food " lists the natural

defect levels in chocolate in the form of " insects, rodents and other natural

contaminants " that are allowable by the Food and Drug Administration. Allowed

in chocolate and chocolate liquor used in the manufacture of such products as

chocolate bars, up to 120 insect fragments per cup or two rodent hairs per cup. "

 

" Four percent of cocoa beans may be infested with insects and still carry the

blessing of the FDA. Visible or solid animal excreta must not exceed 10

milligrams per pound. For chocolate powder or pressed cakes there must not be

more than 75 insect fragments in 3 tablespoons of powder!?

 

" Many individuals who believe themselves to be allergic to chocolate are in fact

allergic to the animal parts that are in chocolate. One 11 year old boy was

hospitalized for abdominal pain and vomiting blood. He had suddenly developed

purpura, tiny spots of hemorrhage in the skin all over the body. It was

discovered while he was in the hospital that his attacks of skin hemorrhage and

abdominal pain could be brought on within a few minutes of giving chocolate,

either by mouth or by scratch test in the skin. Chocolate is also a common

cause of " pruritis ani, " an uncomfortable itch around the anus, the terminal

part of the colon. Stopping the use of chocolate results in prompt cessation of

the itch. "

 

" Should you like to have further information about this matter you may obtain

materials from FDA Guidelines and COmpliance Branch, Bureau of Foods, 200 C

Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20204 "