Chocolate recall

Hotel Chocolat in the UK have actioned a recall of their ‘milk free milk’ products. Here is the main statement from the company as posted on their website:

Clarification on the dietary status of ‘Milk Free Milk’

We are very sorry that we haven’t made it clear enough who can eat our Milk-Free Milk and who can’t. We did take advice (including labelling advice from Trading Standards) before we launched it, but the fact that some misunderstanding exists shows us that we were not clear enough. Please have a look at our comprehensive Q&A. Thanks to dietary groups who have made contact and offered advice, which we are using.

The full Q&A statement about the recall can be seen here.

It is that old argument about calling something dairy free when there is a small possibility of trace elements of milk proteins due to dairy being used in the same factory.

Of course this could be problematic for people with allergies, but Hotel Chocolat want vegans to know there are no dairy ingredients added to this milk free range.

How do you feel about the ‘may contain traces’ labelling? Does it stop you from buying a product?


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Eat an egg

Have you got £15 burning a hole in your pocket? Get into your nearest Hotel Chocolat for this gourmet vegan Easter egg.

Made with almond powder, this decadent dairy-free egg is accompanied by chocolate bites packed with fruit and nuts. I was tempted, but just couldn’t bring myself to part with that sort of cash for an Easter egg.

What do you think? Is that crossing a price line you would never step over?

egg vegan easterYou can see the egg via the online Hotel Chocolat shop.

If you do take the plunge and shell out for this vegan egg, please let me know how if it is fabulous. I could still be swayed!


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Express chocolate

I was racing through Piccadilly Circus Underground station a few days back when my greedy sensibilities got a pleasant shock.

Gorgeous chocolate shop chain Hotel Chocolat now have a mini outlet on the station concourse!

I have written about the many vegan suitable items created and sold by Hotel Chocolat and how over-the-top helpful the workers are when you ask about treats free from animal ingredients. You can read my original blog post here.

The new location inside Piccadilly Circus station is tiny. Check out the photo below and what you see is what you get. It is miniature. The staffer smiling for my shot was excited that I was excited, telling me the store had been opened for the first time ever only half an hour before I snapped the shot.

hotel chocolat piccadillyBuying vegan chocolate on the run in London. I love it!


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Give yourself to the dark side

I feel sorry for people who celebrate Christmas. All that money spent on gifts for other people when they could be buying vegan treats for themselves in Hotel Chocolat.

A few days ago I ventured into the Waterloo Station location of chocolate emporium Hotel Chocolat and was blown away by the tastiness on offer. This was my first experience inside one of their stores, but I’m confident they will get to know me on a first name basis before too long.

Of course not everything is vegan inside the shop, but they certainly give greedy plant eaters like me something to get excited about. On asking about the vegan options, I was inundated with choices as the super-friendly staff member practically fell over trying to show me every product suitable for my compassionate sensibilities. I loved that these items were also clearly marked as being vegan on the packaging.

Check out the photos below to see which items won the distinguished accolade of being devoured by me. There were plenty more options that were almost-rans, but I’ll be getting to know them more intimately in the near future.

Dark chocolate with mint  crisp
Dark chocolate with mint crisp
Dark chocolate & chilli batons
Dark chocolate & chilli batons
Gorgeous hazelnut
Gorgeous hazelnut slab
Hotel Chocolat Waterloo
Hotel Chocolat Waterloo

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