• In a market where confectionery manufacturers are struggling to reduce added sugar, the Swiss Nestle Group is launching a chocolate bar, called "Incoa", which uses not only cocoa beans, but also the pulp of the fruit of the cocoa tree as a sweetener , reports Reuters.
The fruit of the cocoa tree is usually thrown away
Using the fruit of the cacao tree, which is normally thrown away, eliminates added sugar and reduces food waste. At the same time, it increases the income of cocoa growers who can sell both the beans and the pulp of the fruit. It is a product that addresses several consumer concerns. "It is an important launch, we will make the product available to all consumers who want it”, said Alexander von Maillot, director of the sweets division at Nestle. The Swiss group will launch the dark chocolate bar "yet", which has no added sugar, first in supermarkets in France and the Netherlands, and later on in other European markets.
A price issue
The problem is that the pulp of the cocoa tree fruit is not cheap. Incoa chocolate bars on the Albert Heijn portal cost about 50% more than other dark chocolate brands. But Alexander von Maillot says that while these high costs make the pulp unsuitable for replacing sugar in normal products, there could be other uses for the pulp of the cocoa tree fruit, for example in baked goods.
A searchable product
And other chocolate makers, such as Lindt & Spruengli from Switzerland and Ritter Sport from Germany, have released limited edition chocolates sweetened with the pulp of the cocoa tree fruit. These sold out quickly. Both firms have announced that they plan to launch products on a large scale when large quantities of fruit pulp are available.
"Upcycling"
The NGO Upcycled Food Association claims that by marketing the fruit of the cocoa tree on a global scale, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by more than 20 million tons per year. The association defines the term "upcycling" as the use of food ingredients that people would not consume, with verified supply chains and a positive impact on the environment. Nestle is the largest food and beverage company in the world.
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