US-based British expats to be denied chocolate faves

Chocoholic British expats living in the United States may be horrified to hear that some of their favourite British-made chocolate bars will no longer be available for sale in their new home country.

A new settlement made between Hershey’s and Let’s Buy British Imports (LBB) will mean that all British-made Cadbury chocolates, as well as popular snacks such as Yorkie bars, Toffee Crisps and Maltesers will no longer be imported to the US.

While an importers disagreement is behind the decision to give British-made Cadburys chocolates the boot from the States, other British chocolate products have been deemed too similar to brands already available in the States.

For example, it is argued that that Yorkies infringe on York peppermint patties, while Toffee Crisps allegedly too closely resemble Reese’s Peanut butter products.

“It is important for Hershey to protect its trademark rights and to prevent consumers from being confused or misled when they see a product name or product package that is confusingly similar to a Hershey name or trade dress,” Hershey’s representative Jeff Beckman told the New York Times.

Although US-made Cadburys chocolates will still be available in the US, many British expats complain that this chocolate doesn’t taste the same (meaning as good) as it does in the UK. This is because US government regulations ban vegetable fat in their chocolate – a prime ingredient in British chocolate. Instead US-based chocolatiers use emulsifiers such as PGPR and soy lecithin, which make the chocolates harder, and therefore last longer before melting; important given the warmer climate in many areas of the US.