I had heard the news that Cadbury had decided to release a new block of chocolate – Dairy milk chocolate with ‘smooth flowing caramel and VEGEMITE”! Initially I thought it was a joke! I was at my local Coles supermarket today and there were EVERYWHERE!  I am not a fan of Vegemite at all, I could not think of a worse combination.  However, for those that love Vegemite, there are some things you need to know!

Dairy Milk Vegemite Flavour

Ingredients:

Full cream milk, sugar, wheat glucose syrup, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, invert sugar, yeast extract (from yeast grown on barley and wheat), milk solids, sweetened condensed milk, vegetable fat, salt, emulsifiers (Soy lecithin, 476), malt extract (from barley), colour (150c), flavours.

Breaking this label down, there are four areas that we need to look at:

1) Yeast Extract (from yeast grown on barley and wheat)

This is the first time I have seen yeast extract labeled in this way, ie “From yeast grown on barley and wheat”.  The manufacturers must be starting to realise that consumers are more educated, and by stipulating this extra information, the average consumer will presume that yeast extract is natural and thereby safe.

It should be noted that yeast extract always contains some MSG^.  So yeast extract isn’t pure MSG, however it contains MSG, even if it has been derived from a natural source.  Many manufacturers like to use yeast extract in their products as they are not required to label the product as containing MSG. MSG is an excitotoxin that shrivels and kills brain cells.   An excitotoxin is a chemical that causes a brain cell to become overexcited and fire uncontrollably, leading to cell death. Common adverse reactions resulting from MSG can also include:

  • asthma
  • hyperactivity
  • depression
  • mood changes
  • sleeplessness
  • nausea
  • migraines

2) Malt extract (from barley)

Barley malt extract – is an additive that frequently includes MSG (free glutamic acid) – it is addictive and makes you want to eat lots of them!!  Refer above for the symptoms commonly associated with MSG.

3) Colour 150c

Colour 150c – Caramel III (Ammonia Caramel) can cause symptoms of gastro intestinal problems, hyperactivity and is prohibited in foods for infants.

4) Flavours

Many manufacturers use labeling loopholes to avoid listing every ingredient on their products.  Flavours are not required to be described on a food label as their chemical composition is very complex! We actually don’t know how many ingredients are included in this ingredient ‘Flavours’ or what these are.  You can try calling Cadbury to find out, however, they would not be required to disclose as this is often their ‘trade secret’ or ‘formula’.

^ Excitotoxins: the Taste that Kills, Dr Russell Blaylock (a professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi)

I think I would prefer a block of plain Cadbury Dairy Milk than one served with a dose of harmful food additives.  Has anyone tried it? What’s your thoughts?

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