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FDA Finds Some 'dairy-free' Chocolate Products Contain Milk
Consumers should be aware that some chocolate labeled as "dairy-free" actually contains milk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News
Consumers should be aware that some chocolate labeled as "dairy-free" actually contains milk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
This inaccurate labeling could put people with milk allergies in danger, the FDA noted.
About 13 of 210 chocolate samples sold in Pennsylvania and Michigan in 2022 and 2023 tested positive for milk, the FDA said in an agency news release.
The 13 samples came from three different food manufacturing firms, the FDA said.
In response to the findings, two manufacturers removed the "dairy-free" claim from their chocolate products, the FDA said.
The third manufacturer agreed to remove the "dairy-free" claim from its products if the cause of the presence of milk could not be determined and eliminated, the agency said.
A preliminary investigation has implicated the supplier of dark chocolate as the likely source of milk in these products, rather than unsafe practices by the manufacturer, the FDA said.
The FDA noted that it doesn't define the terms "dairy-free" or "milk-free," but that when these claims are made by manufacturers they must be truthful.
All 13 of the chocolate products found to contain milk did have labeling with milk allergen advisory statements, like "...Made in a facility that also processes milk."
People with milk allergies can contact chocolate manufacturers and inquire how specific products are made, the FDA said.
They can also ask whether it's made on equipment that is exposed to milk, whether ingredients are free of milk, and whether the manufacturer tests products to verify they contain no milk.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on dairy-free chocolate.
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Milk Recall Sparks Warning Across The Country
A nationwide recall has been issued for dozens of containers of Lactaid milk after it was discovered that the product may contain a trace amount of almonds.
According to an announcement from the company posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), traces of almonds were discovered in several varieties of Lactaid milk during routine maintenance. The allergen is not listed on the milk's label and poses a risk to consumers with an allergy or sensitivity to the tree nut.
Under FDA regulations, manufacturers must label if a product contains or may contain any of the nine major food allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. These allergens account for over 90 percent of all food allergic reactions in the United States.
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The affected 96-ounce containers of Lactaid milk were shipped to retailers and wholesalers in 27 states between September 5 and September 18. The company's announcement provides a complete list of the dates.
Several variations of Lactaid milk are included in the recall, although all affected containers are marked with the code 51-4109 P2, which is printed in the top center of the milk jug.
Newsweek reached out to Lactaid via email for comment on Friday afternoon.
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Below is a list of the types of Lactaid products included in the recall and their expiration dates.
No illnesses or reactions have been reported in connection to the recall. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products can return the milk containers to the storefront where they purchased them for a full refund or exchange.
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Questions about returns and exchanges can also be directed to Hood Consumers Affairs at 800-242-2423. That number is available between 9 a.M. ET and 5 p.M. ET, Monday through Friday.
Unintended allergens are one of the top reasons for food recalls in the U.S., according to a report by the regulatory compliance company Traceone, which looked at the causes of food recalls issued by the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) over the past four years.
Between 2020 and 2024, allergen contamination accounted for almost 40 percent of recalls between the two government bodies. Bacterial contamination was the second most frequent reason for recalls, accounting for 21 percent of products being pulled from the shelf in the same timespan.
Dark Vs. Milk Chocolate: Americans Love One More Than The Other, But Which Is 'better' For You?
Arguably one of the world's most beloved foods, chocolate comes in three main varieties: dark, milk and white – although white "chocolate" does not actually contain cocoa products and is a bit of a misnomer.
Nearly half – 49% – of adult Americans said their favorite kind of chocolate was milk chocolate, with dark chocolate coming in a distant second at 34%, according to a a YouGov poll from 2021.
But what is the difference between the two? And is one type of chocolate "better" for you than another? Read on to find out.
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"Chocolate comes from the cocoa bean that grows on the Cacao tree," Mark S. Edwards, co-founder of the Austin, Texas-based company Pivotal Cocoa, told Fox News Digital via email. "The cocoa bean is made up of about 50% cocoa powder and 50% cocoa butter."
Americans prefer milk chocolate (left) to dark chocolate. But is one type healthier than the other? (Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images)
Dark and milk chocolate have the same basic ingredients, Edwards said – cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar and a flavoring, typically vanilla.
"Milk chocolate has one added ingredient – whole milk powder – which gives it a creamier texture and smoother flavor," he said.
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Additionally, dark chocolate contains more cocoa powder and cocoa butter than milk chocolate, meaning it contains more polyphenols, Edwards said.
"These polyphenols have antioxidant properties, eliminating free radicals from the body, as well as having an anti-inflammatory effect," he said.
Chocolate comes from the beans of the cacao tree (seen above). Cacao contains "polyphenols," which help with reducing inflammation. (Pivotal Cocoa)
Dark chocolate typically has less sugar content than its milk counterpart, French pastry chef and chocolatier Jacques Torres told Fox News Digital – something to consider when weighing the health benefits.
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"So that's going to be a better choice if you don't want to consume too much sugar," Torres, a resident of New York City, said.
The overall health benefits are about the same, he added.
"It's up to each customer or individual to decide," Torres said.
Dark chocolate contains less sugar than its milk chocolate counterpart. (iStock)
One scenario where dark chocolate is likely to be a better option than milk chocolate has nothing to do with health, Torres noted. That's cooking.
"More recipes that call for 'chocolate' will call for dark chocolate because if you put chocolate in a recipe, you want the flavor of the chocolate," he said.
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Ideally, a person will use dark chocolate with "about 50% cocoa content," Torres said, which will help promote the flavor of the chocolate in the dish.
With milk chocolate, "you're going to have the notes of the milk that's going to lower the notes of the chocolate," he said.
While sugar is a "key ingredient" in chocolate, St. Mary's Healthcare System in Athens, Georgia, reported that there is more sugar in milk chocolate.
"Neither is exactly health food. But, compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate is the healthier alternative. Dark chocolate contains less sugar and no milk while having much more cacao. The high percentage of cacao creates certain benefits from consuming dark chocolate," the health resource's website said.
Most recipes that call for "chocolate" use dark chocolate, Torres said, as it is better able to convey the flavor. (Laura Chase de Formigny for The Washington Post via Getty Images; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Health benefits aside, it is truly up to the individual whether a person wants to eat milk or chocolate, Edwards noted.
"Chocolate is a very emotional food, having a direct impact on our mental health," he said.
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"So, if you just love milk chocolate, don't deprive yourself [of] the joy of milk chocolate just because a health expert tells you dark is 'healthier,'" Edwards added.
Chocolate is an "emotional food" that is meant to be enjoyed. (iStock)
Plus, from Edwards' personal experience, eating only milk chocolate did not seem to have too big an impact on a beloved family member's health.
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"My great-grandmother, Orania, who started our chocolate company in 1914, loved milk chocolate, hated dark chocolate, and was still working in our factory until she passed away at the age of 99," he said. "So, I say, live, love and eat whichever chocolate brings you the most joy."
Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
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