Page 23 - FoodFocusThailand No.214 JANUARY 2024

SPECIAL TALK BY FDA

chocolate familiar a la taza which the addition of flour or (c) Filled chocolate in clause 4 (17) shall display text of
starch from wheat, maize or rice is permitted but not “... Filled Chocolate” or “Chocolate with ... Filling” or “Chocolate
exceeding the level as specified in Table 1. with ... Center” (the blank space is for the filling’s name), and
5.5 The addition of other food ingredients other than the type of chocolate used as external coating shall be
milk products, sugars, food additives, flavoring agents, and specified.
vegetable fats other than cocoa-butter must not pose health (d) Flavored chocolate and chocolate products shall
risks nor exceed 40% of the product’s total weight, except display the following texts, depending on circumstances:
for Gianduja Chocolate and Gianduja milk chocolate, which 1) “ ..... (the blank space is for chocolate’s type) with …
may contain whole or broken nuts such as almond or hazelnut flavor or … flavored (the blank space is for flavoring agent’s
in approved quantities, which shall not exceed 60% of the name)”
product’s total weight. 2) “ ..... (the blank space is for chocolate’s type) with …
5.6 Contaminants shall not be found in the amount taste or with artificial … taste (the blank space is for taste’s
exceeding the minimum levels prescribed by the notification name)”
regarding standard for contaminant in food. (e) With the exception of the assorted chocolates
5.7 Pathogenic microorganisms shall follow the described in clause 4 (3)(4)(12)(13) and (14), “a variety of
notification regarding the prescription of quality or standard chocolates” in clause 4 packaged in one container, or assorted
requirements, principles, conditions, and methods of analysis chocolates, shall display text of “Assorted Chocolates” with the
for pathogenic microorganisms in foods. itemized list of chocolate and chocolate products’ types
5.8 Yeast and mold shall be less than 100 CFU in 1 contained within. Accompanying said text is the information of
gram of chocolate or chocolate products. ingredients for each chocolate or chocolate product in the
6. Use of food additives and processing aids shall follow assortment or overall ingredients of the whole assortment.
the notification regarding food additives, specifically the Other words of similar nature, such as “Assorted Filled
category 05.1.4 Cocoa and Chocolate Products. Hexane Chocolates” or “Assorted Chocolate Vermicelli”, are also
residue used as processing aid (whose boiling point is at allowed.
62-82 °C) shall not exceed 1 mg/kg (Calculated on a fat (f) Chocolate products shall display text of “..... (the blank
content basis). space is for chocolate’s type) with added . . . . . (the blank
7. Use of flavoring agents shall follow the notification space is for other ingredients’ name)”
regarding flavoring agents. Only an appropriate amount, (2) The types and contents of all vegetable fats other than
sufficient for giving flavor, is allowed. Flavoring agents cocoa butter and total cocoa solids shall be displayed inside
imitating chocolate and milk flavor are prohibited. Single or the label’s space reserved for the list of main ingredients.
combined use of vanillin and/or ethyl vanillin as flavoring (3) The use of word “Chocolate” on the label is prohibited
agents shall not exceed 1,000 mg/kg. for the chocolate and chocolate products, including food
Regarding alcohol-based flavoring agent, methyl alcohol products with chocolate ingredients, that do not comply with
is prohibited, while alcohol content shall not exceed 0.5% of the qualities or standards in this notification.
the total weight of chocolate or chocolate products. (4) Chocolate and chocolate products containing alcohol-
8. Commercial producers or importers of chocolate and based flavoring agent shall display the following:
chocolate products shall follow the notification regarding (a) Clearly legible text of “Contains no more than …% of
production process, production equipment, and food ethyl alcohol” (the blank space is for alcohol content in % by
storage. weight).
9. Packaging of chocolate and chocolate products shall (b) Clearly legible text of “Children and pregnant women
follow the notification regarding food packaging. should not consume.”
10. Labeling of chocolate and chocolate products shall 11. This notification shall come into force the day after the
th
follow the notification regarding labeling of prepackaged date of its publication in the Government Gazette, or June 30 ,
foods and display the following information: 2023, onwards.
These texts shall be displayed near the food’s name, 12. Producers, importers, or sellers of commercial chocolate
depending on circumstances. and chocolate products, whose permits were issued before
(a) Chocolate and chocolate products shall display the the enforcement date (June 30 , 2023), are allowed to continue
th
th
name corresponding to the type of chocolate and chocolate producing, importing for sale, or selling until June 30 , 2025,
products thereof. or up to two years from the enforcement date. As an exception,
(b) Family milk chocolate shall display text of “Family if chocolate and chocolate products that were granted food
Milk Chocolate” or “Milk Chocolate (Milk solid ...%)” (the blank serial numbers before the notification’s enforcement date have
space is for the quantity by % of milk solid). already made quality, standard, and labeling adjustments
corresponding to the notification No.441, the original declaration
of food’s ingredients and details, as per the previous notification,
shall be considered automatically adjusted in accordance
with the notification No.441. Nevertheless, if manufacturers or
importers desire to amend the food ingredient declaration,
they shall do so by applying for the amendment of product’s
detail at the FDA Office or at the Provincial Public Health
Offices so that such information corresponds with the new
notification.

More Information Service Info C001

JAN 2024 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND 23

17-23_Special Talk_FDA_2.indd 23 22/12/2566 BE 07:15
17-23_Special Talk_FDA_2.indd 23
22/12/2566 BE 07:15