Cholesterol

That scares him.

If the change is approved, products would still need to contain chocolate liquor, the ground-up center of the cocoa bean.

But a confection such as PayDay Chocolatey Avalanche - which doesn't contain cocoa butter - would be able to call itself PayDay Chocolate Avalanche.

It may seem like a small distinction, but to people like Guittard, it is not.

An FDA spokeswoman said if - stressing, if - the agency decides to consider changing the standards as requested in the petition, the process would take several years.

For their part, chocolate makers aren't saying much.

Kirk Saville, a Hershey's spokesman, said it was "premature to speculate on any changes before the process is complete." He was more expansive in speaking to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, in the company's back yard, saying, "There are high-quality oils available which are equal to or better than cocoa butter in taste, nutrition, texture and function, and are preferred by consumers." INSIDE NEWS • The Plain Dealer • Newsflash • Weather • Traffic • Obituaries • Opinion • Business • Crime • Politics • Edu...

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