Dive Brief:
- Chocolate manufacturers may be able to reduce the fat content of products by using electricity to improve liquid chocolate's flow during processing, according to recent research Mars partially funded.
- Researchers at Temple University found that by running liquid chocolate through an electric field, the field makes tiny balls of cocoa clump together to form chains. This makes it easier for liquid chocolate to flow through processing without having to add as much melted fat and oil.
- Researchers used this technique to reduce the chocolate's fat content by about 10%. But they could potentially double that reduction, one of the researchers told the Associated Press.
Dive Insight:
Outside experts question the final chocolate product made with this processing technique. The researchers provided no scientific evaluation of how the chocolate's taste and texture were impacted by the electrical field, though researchers told AP that they either tasted no difference or that the treated chocolate tasted better. Manufacturers would have to ensure that reducing fat content wouldn't significantly alter the chocolate's flavor.
It's also unclear how the electrically-treated chocolate would maintain its quality in storage and shipping. Fat provides flavor, texture, and functionality, so chocolate with less fat may react differently to extreme temperatures. Manufacturers already struggle with chocolate melting in transport.
As e-commerce grows, this becomes a greater concern, as manufacturers try to limit shipping costs, like protective packaging and refrigerated delivery. Hershey crowdsourced ideas for how to combat the problem earlier this year, and several other chocolate makers have done product development research to create chocolate that withstands hotter temperatures.
U.S. chocolate sales are expected to surpass $30 billion by 2021, according to a TechSci report. Despite dodging consumers' health concerns, several chocolate products have gone the organic route or achieved sustainable sourcing to appeal to health-conscious consumers.