Investigation Reveals Surprising Ingredients in Easter Chocolate Products

A recent investigation by France Télévisions examined the actual ingredients in Easter chocolates, revealing that many products contain minimal cocoa. As Easter approaches, journalists from the 20 Heures program analyzed various items like eggs and bunnies, finding that sugar often tops ingredient lists, with some confections having over half sugar content. A chemist, Raphaël Haumont from Université Paris Saclay, highlighted the disproportionate amounts of sugar and fats, noting that these are legally labeled as chocolate confections rather than pure chocolate. Major manufacturers declined to comment, but an Alsatian chocolatier, Abtey, shared its use of an alternative ingredient called ChoViva, made from roasted sunflower seeds and grape pips, which is 25% cheaper than cocoa. This allows for lower-priced products, such as a rabbit priced at €3.70 with ChoViva versus €4.80 with chocolate. The report underscores consumer unawareness about composition and the impact of rising cocoa prices on production.