Avoid chocolate confusion with distinctive labels

Dark chocolate is often marketed differently than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has possible health benefits associated with it, as well as a distinct earthy flavor, while milk chocolate is often considered more popular and common.

Even though many chocolate products display a percentage of cacao ontent on the front of the label, the product could contain undeclared milk that consumers are unaware of. This is more than just bad business: for lactose intolerant consumers, the presence of milk in their chocolate could be dangerous.

In a recently released health information advisory, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) referred to research it conducted on the accuracy of chocolate candy labels. According to their findings, 88 out of a sample size of 94 dark chocolate bars didn’t include milk in their list of ingredients, and more than 60 percent of all surveyed bars contained milk.

Also included in this advisory is a statement from Laura Shumow of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), who said that candy makers are taking this issue seriously.

“The chocolate industry will continue to make every effort to understand the needs of allergic consumers and communicate the potential presence of milk allergens in dark chocolate through advisory labeling,” she said. In the meantime, the organization advises consumers to assume that milk may be present in chocolate even if not labeled.

Chocolate companies can address labeling issues using a color label printer appropriate for their industry and product size. The Primera LX printers, including the LX900, are capable of making colorful labels that display important consumer information in a way that doesn’t distract from the color or value of the package. Companies can select their own font and color choice to create an inviting and accurate label.