Britain revealed as a nation of milk chocolate lovers

A recent Valued Opinions online poll has discovered that two thirds of Brits (66%) like milk chocolate the best whilst 22% prefer dark chocolate and 12% would choose white chocolate. Just 1% of all respondents of the online opinion poll didn't like chocolate at all, reflecting the fact that for most of the people in Britain, chocolate is a luxury they can't live without. 



Although chocolate has traditionally been regarded as a naughty-but-nice treat, recent scientific research into its chemical properties has revealed that it has important health benefits. Raw cacao has the highest antioxidant value of any natural food. Among other things, it also improves heart function, helps to reduce cholesterol and high-blood pressure and has a wealth of stress-busting, feel-good and anti-depressant chemicals. 



Evidence has suggested that consuming small quantities of high-quality dark chocolate has some measurable health benefits including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and increasing insulin sensitivity. 



However, consumers won't get a chocolate-induced bill of health from the cheaper chocolate bars that stack the UK shelves. The majority of milk and white chocolate is made from cocoa beans that have been roasted, treated with alkalis or other chemicals. These processes strip the beans of virtually any valuable nutrition.

The chocolate is then bulked out with additives such as hydrogenated oils, animal fats, refined sugar, dairy products and chemical preservatives; all of which make it a less than healthy option. 

Milk chocolate typically contains around 20% milk fat which aside from being calorie laden also inhibits the body's absorption of cocoa's antioxidants.

This is bad news for milk chocolate-loving Brits. Most chocolate produced for the UK market is milkier and contains less cocoa than chocolate in the rest of Europe. In 2003, the Food Standards Authority was pleased when the EU regulations allowed British chocolate to have 20% (rather than the former 25%) cocoa solids in order to be classified as real chocolate.

It might not be good quality and it's certainly not healthy, but market research shows that Britons like cheap, sweet, milky chocolate and the FSA argues that they should be allowed to continue making and eating it.

Share this page with your friends

 

Share this page with your friends.