This year, the approach of the holidays worries some artisans more than it delights them. Among them, those of one of greatest pleasures of the season: chocolatiers. Will they get away with it in December? The latest news from the National Assembly casts doubt on this.
There is no chocolate without sugar. Problem: one of the bases for recipes for Santa Clauses and other molded chocolate trees will soon be overtaxed. As a result, artisans may have no other choice than to pass on this increase in costs in their prices in anticipation of the holidays, a signal which risks being poorly received by consumers during this period of high attendance.
Rising prices on “too” sweet products
At the origin of this commotion in workshops and in many other companies needing to sweeten their products:
an amendment tabled by centrist MP Cyrille Isaac-Sibille. Approved in the National Assembly on Monday, November 4, this text will make it possible to establish a surcharge on
“processed foods with added sugar.”
Invited on the air of BFMTV, the elected official from Rhône wanted to be reassuring about this surcharge which will not come back not right away in force. “This does not concern lollipops or chocolate. The amendment targets ultra-processed industrial dishes in which they add sugars”specified Cyrille Isaac-Sibille.
Prices of processed products high in added sugar
In the industrial sectorthe surcharge will be applied according to the level of added sugar per hectoliter of processed products:
- Less than 5 kilos of added sugars: no surcharge (0 euros);
- Between 5 and 8 kilos of added sugars: a surcharge of 21 euros;
- Beyond 8 kilos of added sugars: a surcharge of 28 euros.
Dix essential ingredients New Year's Eve that the food industry is used to loading with added sugars could thus see their prices increase. According to the 2024 report from ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) and Oqali (Food Observatory), 43% of “chewable aperitifs” contain added sugars. Among the other essential aperitif items, 77% of the “catering” products in the fresh section also contain them.
Dix essential New Year’s Eve ingredients whose prices will rise
As for the industrial sandwich bread which is often grilled with foie gras, 76% contain added sugars. Concerning the cold meats served as starters during festive meals, 84% also contain them, still according to the same report. As for stock cubes, 59% of them contain added sugars. Ready-to-heat sauces to accompany dishes are also frequently provided with it, up to 81%.
photo credit: Shutterstock The cost of Christmas Eve
Among the processed products made from potatoes, 49% contain added sugars. For the
frozen logs in the frozen food section, the finding is even more striking: 99.5% of them contain it. Unsurprisingly, Christmas chocolates are no exception, with 99% of them containing added sugars. We even reach 99.99% for confectionery. Finally, ice creams and sorbets decorated with whipped cream and chocolate flakes contain 100% when they are industrial.
