Shock for Biscuit Fans: Penguin and Club Lose ‘Chocolate’ Status
Britain’s beloved Penguin and Club biscuits have taken a hit. McVitie’s owner Pladis has dropped real chocolate from these treats, swapping it for a “chocolate flavour coating” amid soaring cocoa prices. The shock news means these favourites no longer qualify as official “chocolate biscuits.”
More Oils, Less Cocoa: What’s Really Inside?
The revamped biscuits now pack more palm oil and shea oil than actual cocoa. This change means they fail the legal test to bear the chocolate name. But don’t panic just yet – Pladis insists the taste stays true to the originals.
“We are using a chocolate flavour coating with cocoa mass, rather than a chocolate coating. Sensory testing with consumers shows the new coatings deliver the same great taste as the originals,” a Pladis spokesperson said.
Iconic Slogan Scrapped as Club Biscuits Get a New Motto
Alongside the recipe switch, the Club biscuit’s famous slogan has gone. “If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit, join our Club” has been replaced with a less chocolaty twist: “If you like a lot of biscuit in your break, join our Club.”
Rising Cocoa Prices to Blame for the Change
The price of cocoa has soared recently due to poor harvests in West Africa, which produces around 70% of the world’s supply. Pladis has tweaked its recipes to cut costs without passing big price hikes onto fans.
