THIS IS NOT A DRILL…The World Is Running Out Of Chocolate (No Seriously, We Are) [News]
Chocolate connoisseurs, we have a little problem. We’re entering code brown.
According to the Washington Post, two of the world’s largest chocolatiers—Mars Inc. and Barry Callebaut—are predicting that there could be a massive global chocolate shortage by 2020.
In 2013 there was a chocolate deficit of 70,000 tons (meaning cacao consumption outpaced cacao production by 70K). That number is projected to inflate to 1 MILLION metric tons by 2020, and potentially 2 million by 2030.
Why? What you leaned in Econ 101. Supply and demand. Plant-based disease and droughts in Western Africa, which spews out ~73% of the world’s cacao, have severely hurt overall production; while an increased infatuation with dark chocolate has accelerated demand. Dark chocolate contains 70-95% cacao content, which is significantly higher than the 10% found in the average chocolate bar.
That’s potentially a 9-fold increase in cacao consumption for anyone that converts to the dark stuff. Don’t freak though. Chocolate’s demise isn’t imminent, and the cacao well isn’t going to run dry tomorrow.
There are ramifications, though. Mainly — rising prices, especially for artisanal chocolate, dark chocolate, and other high quality cuts (they’ve already skyrocketed by 60% since 2012). Additionally, and probably most likely, chocolate manufacturers could conceivably beef up their chocolate products with trans fats, veggie fats, artificial sweeteners, marshmallow goop, caramel ribbons, and other garbage to add bulk.
If you’re a chocolate fiend, continue to monitor labels and be prepared to pony up for quality cacao.
Bryan DiSanto
I also contribute to Men's Health Magazine.
When I'm not working on my abs (or somebody else’s), whipping up avocado roses and avocado toast, or running a Tough Mudder, I'm probably yelling at a Carolina Panthers game somewhere.
Come be friends with me on Instagram (@BRYDISANTO) & Snapchat (BRYDISANTO).
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