Cocoa
Product Uses
Food Uses 1
Cocoa is used in a variety of products such as beverages, breakfast cereals, baked products, dairy and egg products, sweets, and fats and oils.
Non-Food Uses 1
Cocoa can be used in soft soap and fertilizer, and also animal feed can be made from cocoa husk.
Food Product Codes
FDA Industry Code and General Industry Description 2
| FDA Industry Code | Description of Product |
|---|
HTS code(s) 3
| HTS Code | Description of Product |
|---|
USDA NDB code(s) 4
| USDA NDB Code | Description of Product |
|---|
Standards and Grades
CODEX Standards 5
CODEX STAN 105-1981
FDA Standard of Identity 6
No FDA Standard of Identity was located for this food product.
USDA Grades 7
No US Grade was located for this product.
Consumption, Production and Trade
Estimated Consumption of Cocoa in the United States per capita 2006 - 2015 8
Updated July 2020.
United States Import Patterns 9
Imports are relatively sporadic throughout the year without a clear pattern.
Monthly Imports of Cocoa into the United States 9
Import quantity FAS category "Cocoa." Updated July, 2023.
US Imports and Exports by Value 9
Import value FAS category "Cocoa."
Updated July, 2023.
FAS category "Cocoa." Updated March 2020.
US Imports and Exports by Quantity 9
Import quantity FAS category "Cocoa."
Updated July, 2023.
FAS category "Cocoa." Updated March 2020.
Top 5 Producing Countries of Cocoa (2021) 10
| Country | Tonnes |
|---|
Top 5 Exporting Countries of Cocoa (2021) 10
| Country | Tonnes |
|---|
Historic Global Production of Cocoa 10
Historic Global Value of Cocoa 10
Updated February 2020.
Active anti-dumping/countervailing duties 11
Based on the list of antidumping and countervailing duty orders current as of July 1, 2020, there are no active antidumping or countervailing duties for this product.
Processing and Supply Chain Characteristics
Seasonality Profile 12
Cocoa can typically be grown about 10 degrees north and/or south of the equator. In West Africa, peak harvesting season for cocoa is between September and December.
Supply Chain Characteristics 12
Cocoa pods are harvested and cured before being brought to market. They are purchased at market and brought to processing plants where they are processed differently to yield different products.
Way Exported 12
Cured cocoa pods are transported in sacks.
Shipping pattern into US 13
No typical shipping patterns into the US were located for this product.
Typical Packaging 14
Usually packaged in jute or sisal bags.
Food Safety and Defense
Key Activity Type - Coating/Mixing/Grinding/Rework 15
Yes - coating/mixing/grinding/rework, ingredient staging/prep/addition, liquid receiving/loading, and liquid storage/hold/surge tanks.
Key Activity Type - Ingredient Staging/Prep/Addition 15
Yes- curing of cocoa
Key Activity Type - Liquid Receiving/Loading 15
Yes- bulk liquid receiving and loading
Key Activity Type - Liquid Storage/Hold/Surge Tanks 15
Yes- liquid storage and handling
Recall history 16
Various incidents involving undeclared allergens (typically milk) have prompted recalls of chocolate based products in the last five years.
Foodborne illness pathogens 17
Salmonella
List of past EMA adulterants 18
Counterfeit cocoa powder, cocoa shells, and sucrose
Current issues 19
A number of issues are associated with the production of chocolate from cocoa. The industry suffers from systemic under-investment in research into better plant yields, prevention measures against disease and pests. Additionally, overuse of farmland causes soil degradation and deforestation. Economically, low cocoa prices fuels widespread poverty among cocoa growers.
Food Defense Incidents (2019) 20
|
Type of incident
EMA
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
2009
Year Ended
2009 |
Incident summary
In 2009, counterfeit production of a Russian brand of cocoa, Золотой Ярлык (Gold Label) was discovered. Красный Октябрь (Red October), the legitimate producer of the cocoa, had temporary discontinued production April 2008. The last expiration date of the authentic product was April 2009; therefore, Gold Label cocoa sold with an expiration date after April 2009 was counterfeit. No details were reported about the perpetrators or the actual content of the counterfeit cocoa.
Adulterated food product(s)
Cocoa Powder
Affected food product(s)
Cocoa Powder
Originated location(s)
Russia
Harm location(s)
Russia |
|
Type of incident
EMA
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
Before 1980
Year Ended
Before 1980 |
Incident summary
Products shipped by D. Ghirardelli Co. between February 1920 and May 1921 were found to contain excessive amounts of cocoa shells. Cocoa shells were added to substitute, wholly or in part, the valuable constituents in products including chocolate coating and cocoa liquor. Moreover, it was found that due to the excessive amount of cocoa shells, the valuable constituent of cocoa liquor and cocoa fat had been wholly or in part abstracted. 104 cases of chocolate coating and 28 cases of cocoa liquor were seized.
Adulterated food product(s)
cocoa liquor, Cocoa Powder
Affected food product(s)
cocoa products, liquor
Originated location(s)
United States
Harm location(s)
United States |
|
Type of incident
EMA
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
Before 1980
Year Ended
Before 1980 |
Incident summary
In March 1916, a shipment with products labeled as Carnival Brand Cocoa was seized. Microscopic examination found that the product, labeled as cocoa, consisted of at least 35% of cocoa shells (a by-product of cocoa production typically sold at a much lower price). The product was determined to be adulterated due to the fact that cocoa shells injuriously affected the strength and quality of the cocoa. It was also determined that the product was misleading to customers because it was labeled as cocoa, but was was actually a blend of cocoa and cocoa shells. The perpetrator pleaded guilty and paid a $25 fine.
Adulterated food product(s)
cocoa products
Affected food product(s)
cocoa products
Originated location(s)
United States
Harm location(s)
United States |
|
Type of incident
Sabotage
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
1997
Year Ended
1999 |
Incident summary
In Germany, poison was added to Nestle food products in order for monetary ransom. For over 2 years (1997-1999), a perpetrator was adulterating Nestle Food products throughout 20 German cities. In order to stop the adulteration episodes, the perpetrator demanded over 9 million pounds worth of uncut diamonds to be delivered to him by pigeons. Police caught the perpetrator by replacing the diamonds contained in pouches strapped to the pigeons with tracking devices. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and no one was injured.
Adulterated food product(s)
chocolate drink, mayonnaise, mustard
Affected food product(s)
cocoa products, mayonnaise, sauce
Originated location(s)
Germany
Harm location(s)
Germany |
Sources
- Products That Can Be Made From Cocoa.
- FDA Product Code Builder.
- United States International Trade Commission - Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service - National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
- CODEX Alimentarius - International Food Standards.
- Code of Federal Regulations - Food Standards, 21 C.F.R. § 130.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Grades and Standards.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Global Agricultural Trade System.
- FAOSTAT.
- United States International Trade Commission.
- Cocoa and Chocolate. worldagroforestry.org
- USITC
- Transport Information Service.
- FDA Appendix 4 - Evaluation of Food Manufactured, Processed, Packed, or Held On-farm for Risk of Intentional Adulteration.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Archive for Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts.
- Is the rise of Raw Chocolate a Safely Concern? confectionerynews.com
- Food Protection and Defense Institute - EMA Incidents Database.
- Securing Cocoa's Future. World Cocoa Foundation-Challenges. Cocoa Prices and Income of Farmers.
- Food Protection and Defense Institute - Food Defense Incidents Database.