The Ferrara Candy Company is an American candy manufacturer, based in Chicago, Illinois , and owned by the Ferrero Group .
104-710: Kit Kat (stylised as KitKat in various countries) is a chocolate -covered wafer bar confection created by Rowntree's of York , England. It is produced globally by Nestlé (which acquired Rowntree's in 1988), except in the United States, where it is made under licence by the H. B. Reese Candy Company , a division of the Hershey Company (an agreement Rowntree's first made with Hershey in 1970). The standard bars consist of two or four pieces composed of three layers of wafer, separated and covered by an outer layer of chocolate. Each finger can be snapped from
208-669: A Big Brother housemate and bypass the standard auditions process. Golden ticket holders were invited to a television show where one of them, Susie Verrico , was chosen to enter the House by Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace , picking a ball out of a machine at random. This contest caused some controversy, with the Advertising Standards Authority saying that the terms and conditions of the draw should have been made clearer in related advertisements, and that an independent adjudicator should have been present before and during
312-581: A Rainforest Alliance accreditation. In the first three weeks of Big Brother Series 7 in the UK, Channel 4 conducted a promotion in conjunction with Nestlé to distribute 100 "golden tickets" randomly throughout Kit Kats, in a style reminiscent of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story. Members of the public finding these tickets were permitted to use them to give themselves a chance to become
416-556: A mood enhancer , such as by increasing sex drive or stimulating cognition , but there is little scientific evidence that such effects are consistent among all chocolate consumers. If mood improvement from eating chocolate occurs, there is not enough research to indicate whether it results from the favorable flavor or from the stimulant effects of its constituents, such as caffeine, theobromine, or their parent molecule, methylxanthine . A 2019 review reported that chocolate consumption does not improve depressive mood . Reviews support
520-461: A veterinarian involves inducing vomiting within two hours of ingestion and administration of benzodiazepines or barbiturates for seizures, antiarrhythmics for heart arrhythmias , and fluid diuresis . A typical 20-kilogram (44 lb) dog will normally experience great intestinal distress after eating less than 240 grams (8.5 oz) of dark chocolate, but will not necessarily experience bradycardia or tachycardia unless it eats at least
624-464: A 20-kilogram (44 lb) dog. In the 20th century, there were reports that mulch made from cocoa bean shells is dangerous to dogs and livestock. Commonly consumed chocolate is high in fat and sugar , which are associated with an increased risk for obesity when chocolate is consumed in excess. Overall evidence is insufficient to determine the relationship between chocolate consumption and acne . Various studies point not to chocolate, but to
728-526: A chocolate confection maker, is recorded from 1859. Evidence for the domestication of the cacao tree exists as early as 5300 BP in South America , before it was introduced to Mesoamerica . It is unknown when chocolate was first consumed as opposed to other cacao-based drinks, and there is evidence the Olmecs , the earliest known major Mesoamerican civilization, fermented the sweet pulp surrounding
832-400: A crystallize a small amount of fat in a particularly stable formation. Around this small amount of crystals, the rest of the fats crystallize, creating a glossy chocolate, with a crisp break. Chocolate is molded in different shapes for different uses: Chocolate is very sensitive to temperature and humidity. Ideal storage temperatures are between 15 and 17 °C (59 and 63 °F), with
936-666: A dose as low as 12.5 mg was shown to have effects on cognitive performance. Chocolate may be a factor for heartburn in some people because one of its constituents, theobromine, may affect the esophageal sphincter muscle in a way that permits stomach acids to enter the esophagus . Theobromine poisoning is an overdosage reaction to the bitter alkaloid, which happens more frequently in domestic animals than humans. However, daily intake of 50–100 g cocoa (0.8–1.5 g theobromine) by humans has been associated with sweating, trembling, and severe headache. Chocolate and cocoa contain moderate to high amounts of oxalate , which may increase
1040-487: A giant wheel. The candy was dropped to the shipping department below through a hole in the floor. The private equity firm Catterton Partners , owner of Farley's & Sathers Candy Company , arranged the 2012 deal whereby that well-established confectioner would merge with the Ferrara Pan Candy Company. Although Ferrara Pan Candy was only about half the size of Farley's & Sathers, the new company
1144-514: A half a kilogram (1.1 lb) of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has 2 to 5 times more theobromine and thus is more dangerous to dogs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual , approximately 1.3 grams of baker's chocolate per kilogram of a dog's body weight (0.02 oz/lb) is sufficient to cause symptoms of toxicity. For example, a typical 25-gram (0.88 oz) baker's chocolate bar would be enough to bring about symptoms in
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#17327726272871248-546: A limited edition, and began doing so again. Nestlé now manufactures two-finger Kit Kats with natural flavourings, and in February 2021 announced the rollout of the first vegan Kit Kat, called "KitKat V". In 2014, Kit Kat was ranked the third best selling chocolate bar in the United Kingdom, after Dairy Milk and Galaxy . Sometimes considered a biscuit , in 2020 sales of Kit Kats were second to McVitie's biscuits in
1352-455: A mini book featuring six short stories, one of which was written by Koji Suzuki , author of the Ring cycle series. In Japan, Kit Kats are also available in jars that are dispensed from vending machines. Kit Kat introduced two new flavours to the United States in 2020: Lemon Crisp and Raspberry Creme. The new flavours are available in regular sized bars or miniature bars. In 2020, Nestlé launched
1456-441: A network newsroom. However, the "classic" song has also been used again since the newer version first aired in 2004. Many adverts were worldwide hits among them in the 1980s with Ken Campbell in an advert with Heaven and Hell with Devil and Angel on Television. In Australia, TV ads for Kit Kat featured the classic children's show Thunderbirds , which played off the catchphrase "Thunderbirds Are Go" but instead sees one of
1560-527: A new flavor, Scotch whisky KitKats, available only in Japan using chocolate aged for six months in whisky barrels in Scotland. In February 2021, the company announced it will be launching a vegan , dairy-free version of their popular KitKat product. The bar will be called KitKat V and it will be available in select countries in late 2021 and then expand worldwide. The 'standard' Kit Kat finger bars can come in
1664-589: A new £5 million manufacturing line was opened by Nestlé in York, to produce more than one billion Kit Kat bars each year. As dark chocolate has seen increased demand and favour worldwide because of its purported health benefits, in September 2006 the four-finger Kit Kat Fine Dark was launched in the United Kingdom as a permanent product. Hershey had sold the four-finger Kit Kat Dark in the US several years previously as
1768-405: A partnership with The Forest Trust to establish "responsible sourcing guidelines" and ensure that its products did not have a deforestation footprint. They aimed to achieve a fully sustainable method of palm oil harvesting by 2015. Nestlé stated that 58% of palm oil purchased in 2017 was certified responsibly sourced. By 2023 the figure was 100% with 96% being deforestation free. Kit Kat filling
1872-572: A piece of that Kit Kat bar!" Use of the name Kit Kat or Kit Cat for a type of food goes back to the 18th century, when mutton pies known as a Kit Kat were served at meetings of the political Kit-Cat Club in London owned by pastry chef Christopher Cat. The origins of what is now known as the Kit Kat brand go back to 1911, when Rowntree's , a confectionery company based in York , England, trademarked
1976-415: A popular treat at Italian weddings. When candy sales became greater than pastries, Ferrara partnered with two brothers-in-law, Salvatore Buffardi and Anello Pagano. They built a two-story brick building at 2200 W. Taylor and began producing a variety of panned candies. The second floor of the building was devoted to the revolving kettles that produced the pan candy, with all of the machines being driven by
2080-603: A redesigned Big Kat, and a king-size Big Kat (two of the then-new Big Kat bars). A Kit Kat breakfast cereal was launched in the United Kingdom in 2023. Kit Kat has opened a Chocolatory in the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre in Melbourne , Australia. There was also one in Sydney, however this was closed June 2024. The shops allow customers to use touch screens to create their own Kit Kat from
2184-427: A relative humidity of less than 50%. If refrigerated or frozen without containment, chocolate can absorb enough moisture to cause a whitish discoloration, the result of fat or sugar crystals rising to the surface. Various types of "blooming" effects can occur if chocolate is stored or served improperly. Chocolate bloom is caused by storage temperature fluctuating or exceeding 24 °C (75 °F), while sugar bloom
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#17327726272872288-462: A result, the club's home-ground, Bootham Crescent , was renamed to KitKat Crescent. The Maltese tour boat MV Lady Davinia had a distinctive red and white Kit Kat paint scheme before she sank in 2008. In a 2012 advertising campaign in the UK and Ireland, several new flavours of Chunky Kit Kat were marketed, with consumers being asked to vote for their favourite. Selecting from white chocolate, double chocolate, peanut butter, and orange, Peanut butter
2392-618: A selection of chocolates and ingredients; they are made while the customers wait, and customers can mix their own flavours with some Kit Kat that has been provided in store. There are similar locations in Brazil, Japan and Canada. In March 2010, Kit Kat was targeted for a boycott by Greenpeace for using palm oil , which the environmental organisation claimed resulted in destruction of forest habitats for orangutans in Indonesia. A YouTube video by Greenpeace went viral and Nestlé announced
2496-450: A short-term effect of lowering blood pressure by consuming cocoa products, but there is no evidence of long-term cardiovascular health benefit. Chocolate and cocoa are under preliminary research to determine if consumption affects the risk of certain cardiovascular diseases or enhances cognitive abilities . While daily consumption of cocoa flavanols (minimum dose of 200 mg) appears to benefit platelet and vascular function, there
2600-401: A valuable wartime foodstuff, with the slogan "what active people need". The first Kit Kat poster appeared in 1951, and the brand made its first television appearance in a UK commercial in 1958. The first colour TV advertisement appeared in 1969. Since 1957, the slogan for the Kit Kat in the UK and elsewhere has been " Have a break... have a Kit Kat ". However, in 1995, Nestlé sought to trademark
2704-519: A variety of presentations and nutritional values. The bars can come in a miniature form of two finger mini bars, or a larger standard four, or in some cases, three, fingered bars. Originally, each finger was imprinted with the name 'Rowntree' in script form, but this was subsequently changed to Kit Kat and remains so to this day. The standard size has been upgraded in several cases up to a 'monster Size' bar, which can include up to five or eight fingers. Large single-fingered "Chunky Kit Kats" were launched in
2808-456: A warning label on chocolate products having more than 4.1 mg of cadmium per daily serving of a single product. One tablespoonful (5 grams) of dry unsweetened cocoa powder has 12.1 mg of caffeine and a 25-g single serving of dark chocolate has 22.4 mg of caffeine. Although a single 7 oz. (200 ml) serving of coffee may contain 80–175 mg, studies have shown psychoactive effects in caffeine doses as low as 9 mg, and
2912-424: A yoghurt with Kit Kat pieces, and a Kit Kat ice cream cone . In the 1980s, a Kit Kat with five shorter fingers was sold in vending machines in the UK. The Japanese Bake 'N Tasty Mini Kit Kats Custard Pudding Flavour was launched in 2014. The bar must be baked in an oven before consumption, and the surface sugar caramelises in the process. In 2015, a new luxury and giftable variant of Kit Kat called Kit Kat Rubies
3016-403: A young man biting into one of the Kit Kat bars in a grocery store, and roaring like a lion so loudly the whole store shakes violently, knocking items from the shelves. Another short-lived US slogan was "That's What You Want", whose television adverts showed people pulling unlikely foodstuffs from their pockets or purses, before rejecting them in favour of a Kit Kat. The "classic" American version of
3120-511: Is cacahuatl meaning "cacao water", which chocolate does not immediately derive from. Despite theories that chocolate is derived from xocoatl meaning "bitter drink" or chocolatl meaning "hot water" and uncertainty around the Nahuatl origin, there is a consensus that it likely derives from chicolatl . Whether chicolatl means "cacao beater", however, is contested, due to difficulty knowing what chico means. The term " chocolatier ", for
3224-477: Is a food made from roasted and ground cocoa beans that can be a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring in other foods. The cacao tree has been used as a source of food for at least 5,300 years, starting with the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in what is present-day Ecuador . Later, Mesoamerican civilizations consumed cacao beverages, of which one, chocolate, was introduced to Europe in
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3328-585: Is a variant of cacao, likely arising from a confusion with the word coco . Through cacao, it is ultimately derived from kakaw(a) , but whether that word originates in Nahuatl or a Mixe-Zoquean language is the subject of substantial linguistic debate. Chocolate is a Spanish loanword, first recorded in English in 1604, and first recorded in Spanish in 1579. The word for chocolate drink in early Nahuatl texts
3432-492: Is also used in cold and hot beverages, such as chocolate milk and hot chocolate , and in some alcoholic drinks, such as crème de cacao . Although cocoa originated in the Americas, West African countries , particularly Ivory Coast and Ghana , are the leading producers of cocoa in the 21st century, accounting for some 60% of the world cocoa supply. A 2020 report estimated that more than 1.5 million children are involved in
3536-605: Is an excellent source (over 19% of the Daily Value , DV) of riboflavin , vitamin B12 and the dietary minerals , manganese , phosphorus and zinc . Chocolate is a good source (10–19% DV) of calcium , magnesium and iron . Chocolate contains polyphenols , especially flavan-3-ols (catechins) and smaller amounts of other flavonoids . It also contains alkaloids , such as theobromine , phenethylamine , and caffeine , which are under study for their potential effects in
3640-404: Is called conching. A conche is a container filled with metal beads, which act as grinders. The refined and blended chocolate mass is kept in a liquid state by frictional heat. Chocolate before conching has an uneven and gritty texture. The conching process produces cocoa and sugar particles smaller than the tongue can detect (typically around 20 μm ) and reduces rough edges, hence the smooth feel in
3744-448: Is caused by temperature below 15 °C (59 °F) or excess humidity. To distinguish between different types of bloom, one can rub the surface of the chocolate lightly, and if the bloom disappears, it is fat bloom. Moving chocolate between temperature extremes, can result in an oily texture. Although visually unappealing, chocolate suffering from bloom is safe for consumption and taste is unaffected. Bloom can be reversed by retempering
3848-459: Is grown (20 degrees north and south of the equator ), the commercial company Mars, Incorporated and the University of California, Berkeley , are conducting genomic research in 2017–18 to improve the survivability of cacao plants in hot climates. The three main varieties of cocoa beans used in chocolate are criollo , forastero, and trinitario. Cocoa pods are harvested by cutting them from
3952-469: Is made by incorporating nut paste (typically hazelnut) to the chocolate paste. Other types of chocolate are used in baking and confectionery. These include baking chocolate (often unsweetened), couverture chocolate (used for coating), compound chocolate (a lower-cost alternative) and modeling chocolate . Modeling chocolate is a chocolate paste made by melting chocolate and combining it with corn syrup , glucose syrup , or golden syrup . Chocolate
4056-503: Is made from cocoa beans, the dried and fermented seeds of the cacao tree ( Theobroma cacao ), a small, 4–8 m tall (15–26 ft tall) evergreen tree native to the deep tropical region of the Americas. Recent genetic studies suggest the most common genotype of the plant originated in the Amazon basin and was gradually transported by humans throughout South and Central America. Early forms of another genotype have also been found in what
4160-404: Is no good evidence to indicate an effect on heart attacks or strokes . Research has also shown that consuming dark chocolate does not substantially affect blood pressure . Some manufacturers provide the percentage of chocolate in a finished chocolate confection as a label quoting percentage of "cocoa" or "cacao". This refers to the combined percentage of both cocoa solids and cocoa butter in
4264-407: Is now Venezuela . The scientific name, Theobroma , means "food of the gods ". The fruit, called a cocoa pod, is ovoid, 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long and 8–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighing about 500 g (1.1 lb) when ripe. Cacao trees are small, understory trees that need rich, well-drained soils. They naturally grow within 20° of either side of
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4368-562: Is sold in more countries than any other chocolate brand". The traditional bar has four fingers which each measure approximately 1 centimetre (0.4 in) by 9 centimetres (3.5 in). A two-finger bar was launched in the 1930s, and has remained the company's best-selling biscuit brand ever since. The 1999 Kit Kat Chunky (known as Big Kat and Kit Kat Extra Crispy in the US) has one large finger approximately 2.5 centimetres (1 in) wide. Kit Kat bars contain varying numbers of fingers depending on
4472-469: Is usually made with a slightly higher proportion of cocoa butter. It is simply defined by its cocoa percentage. In milk chocolate, the non-fat cocoa solids are partly or mostly replaced by milk solids . In white chocolate, they are all replaced by milk solids, hence its ivory color. Other forms of eating chocolate exist, these include raw chocolate (made with unroasted beans) and ruby chocolate . An additional popular form of eating chocolate, gianduja ,
4576-667: The Willy Wonka brand. Two exceptions are Nestlé's Kit Kat and Rolo lines, which are licensed to the Hershey Company . Ferrara announced it was moving its world headquarters to Chicago in 2019. The Ferrara family had been bakers in Italy . Salvatore Ferrara emigrated from Nola to New York in 1900. In 1908, he opened a bakery at 772 W. Taylor, in the heart of Chicago's "Little Italy" neighborhood. He sold candy-coated almonds known as "confetti" (or Jordan almonds ),
4680-515: The "Gimme a Break" Kit Kat jingle (in use in the US since 1986) was written by Ken Shuldman (copy) and Michael A. Levine (music) for the DDB Advertising Agency . Versions of the original have been covered by Carrie Underwood , Shawn Colvin , and many studio singers, as well as people who have appeared on-camera in the commercials. The jingle was cited in a study by University of Cincinnati researcher James J. Kellaris as one of
4784-579: The "Have a break" portion. After a ten-year legal battle, which was contested by rival Mars, the European Court of Justice ruled on 7 July 2005 to send the case back to the British courts . In 2004, Nestlé UK used the slogan "Make the most of your break", but later returned to the original slogan. The United States also used the short-lived slogan, "Tastes So Good, You'll Roar", in the early 1980s. The TV commercial most known from this slogan involves
4888-780: The 16th century. The seeds of the cacao tree ( Theobroma cacao ) have an intense bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the flavor. After fermentation , the seeds are dried, cleaned, and roasted. The shell is removed to produce nibs, which are then ground to cocoa mass , unadulterated chocolate in rough form. Once the cocoa mass is liquefied by heating, it is called chocolate liquor . The liquor may also be cooled and processed into its two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter . Baking chocolate , also called bitter chocolate, contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions without any added sugar . Powdered baking cocoa, which contains more fiber than cocoa butter, can be processed with alkali to produce Dutch cocoa . Much of
4992-605: The 19th century, including the melanger (a mixing machine), modern milk chocolate , the conching process to make chocolate smoother and change the flavor meant a worker in 1890 could produce fifty times more chocolate with the same labor than they could before the Industrial Revolution , and chocolate became a food to be eaten rather than drunk. As production moved from the Americas to Asia and Africa, mass markets in Western nations for chocolate opened up. In
5096-525: The 20th century, chocolate production further developed, with development of the tempering technique to improve the snap and gloss of chocolate and the addition of lecithin to improve texture and consistency. White and couverture chocolate were developed in the 20th century and the bean-to-bar trade model began. Several types of chocolate can be distinguished. Pure, unsweetened chocolate, often called "baking chocolate", contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of
5200-556: The Kit Kat White, and from 2012 the Kit Kat Cookies & Cream. There has also been Kit Kat Caramel. A wide variety of promotional items exist, ranging from traditional merchandise (such as mugs, pens, oven gloves and tea-towels) to less common items such as coats for small dogs. In Japan, Kit Kats have come packaged with CD singles, and a special limited edition double pack of Kit Kat Crispy Monogatari came bundled with
5304-433: The Kit Kat and other confections appearing globally since then. In September 2006, Nestlé announced that they would be cutting 645 jobs in their York factory and moving all Smarties production to their Hamburg factory, which had already made up for two-thirds of production. They stated that this move would allow for a £20 million investment to modernise the antiquated York factory and improve Kit Kat production. In 2010,
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#17327726272875408-436: The Kit Kat bar, and thus rights would revert directly to Nestlé and not Ferrara in the event of a sale of Hershey. Variants in the traditional chocolate bar first appeared in 1996 when Kit Kat Orange, the first flavour variant, was introduced in the UK. Its success was followed by several varieties including mint and caramel, and in 1999 Kit Kat Chunky was launched and received favourably by international consumers. Variations on
5512-538: The Kit Kat licence so long as Hershey was not sold. Nestlé, which has a substantial presence in the US, had to honour the licensing agreement when it bought Rowntree in 1988. As Kit Kat is one of Hershey's top five brands in the US market, the Kit Kat licence was a key factor in Hershey's failed attempt to attract a serious buyer in 2002. Even Nestlé rejected Hershey's asking price. Nestlé's sale of its US confectionery business to Ferrara Candy Company in 2018 did not impact
5616-757: The UK four-finger Kit Kat contained 233 dietary calories (kcal) (975 kilojoules ). In 2009, the two-finger Kit Kat contained 107 calories. In 2013, the UK Kit Kat Chunky contained 247 calories which reduced to 207 calories in 2015. This correlated to a reduction in weight by 19% from 48 g to 40 g. Hershey's Kit Kat Crisp Wafers in Chocolate contain sugar, wheat flour, cocoa butter, nonfat milk, chocolate, refined palm kernel oil , lactose (milk), milk fat, contains 2% or less of: soy lecithin, PGPR (emulsifier), yeast, artificial flavor, salt, and sodium bicarbonate. Chocolate Chocolate
5720-432: The UK in the biscuit category. When first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1935, the original Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp bar had a red wrapper, which briefly became blue between 1945 and 1947. The Kit Kat logo was added in 1937. As a result of milk shortages after the end of World War II – a period of rationing in the UK – dark chocolate was used instead of milk chocolate during that period. Since its introduction into
5824-549: The UK, and threatened to depose it from its No.1 position. The solution adopted by Nestlé and others was to increase dramatically the number of new and unique variations of their confections and market them as limited or special editions , usually only available for a few months at a time so as not lose sales of their standard products. The strategy initially reversed the decline of the Kit Kat and has been adopted worldwide by Nestlé, Hershey , Mars , and others with similar success. This has resulted in many new flavours and varieties of
5928-454: The US in the 1970s, the Hershey's Kit Kat packaging and advertising has differed from the branding used in every other country where it was sold. In 2002, Hershey Kit Kats adopted the slanted ellipse logo used worldwide by Nestlé, though the ellipse was red and the text white. The US version of "Kit Kat Chunky" is known as "Big Kat". In the United Kingdom, the product was traditionally wrapped in silver foil and an outer paper band. In 2001 this
6032-550: The United Kingdom in 1998 and have been sold in a variety of flavours, such as White Chocolate, Caramel, Hazelnut Cream, and Peanut Butter. The market for Chunky Kit Kats has also expanded to Canada . Other forms and shapes include "Choc'n'Go" individually wrapped fingers in France, a twelve-finger "Family Block" available in New Zealand and Australia, round bite-sized "Pop Choc" pieces, square "Kubes", praline -filled "Senses",
6136-527: The United States are produced under licence by The Hershey Company, a Nestlé competitor, due to a prior licensing agreement with Rowntree. The year 2003 was a turning point for the Kit Kat bar as well as the confectionery industry in general. The popularity of low carb diets, and the push to healthier eating stifled sales growth in many parts of the world. In addition, fierce competition from Cadbury 's newly formed Dairy Milk superbrand also contributed to Kit Kat sales decreasing considerably in its home market of
6240-421: The bar separately. There are many flavours of Kit Kat, including milk, white, and dark chocolate . The original four-finger version of the bar was developed after a worker at Rowntree's York factory put a suggestion in the recommendation box for "a chocolate bar that a man could take to work in his pack up". It was launched in September 1935 in the UK as Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp, and the later two-finger version
6344-579: The bar, not just the percentage of cocoa solids. The Belgian AMBAO certification mark indicates that no non-cocoa vegetable fats have been used in making the chocolate. A long-standing dispute between Britain on the one hand and Belgium and France over British use of vegetable fats in chocolate ended in 2000 with the adoption of new standards which permitted the use of up to five percent vegetable fats in clearly labelled products. This British style of chocolate has sometimes been pejoratively referred to as "vegelate". Ferrara Candy Company The company
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#17327726272876448-477: The beans are dried without fermentation. The nibs are then removed and hydrated in an acidic solution. They are heated for 72 hours and dried again. Gas chromatography / mass spectrometry showed that the incubated chocolate had higher levels of Strecker aldehydes , and lower levels of pyrazines . The dried beans are then transported to a chocolate manufacturing facility. The beans are cleaned (removing twigs, stones, and other debris), roasted , and graded. Next,
6552-450: The body. It is unlikely that chocolate consumption in small amounts causes lead poisoning . Some studies have shown that lead may bind to cocoa shells, and contamination may occur during the manufacturing process. One study showed the mean lead level in milk chocolate candy bars was 0.027 μg lead per gram of candy; another study found that some chocolate purchased at U.S. supermarkets contained up to 0.965 μg per gram, close to
6656-400: The brand came in 1942, owing to World War II , when food shortages prompted an alteration in the recipe. The flavour of Kit Kat was changed to dark chocolate; the packaging abandoned its Chocolate Crisp title, and was coloured blue. After the war the name became Kit Kat, with the original milk chocolate recipe and red packaging. Following its success in the United Kingdom, in the 1940s Kit Kat
6760-644: The brand name echoes the Japanese phrase "Kitto Katsu", roughly translating as "surely win." The Kit Kat Orange was the first flavour variant to be introduced in the United Kingdom, in 1996 and 1998 in Ireland. It was followed in 1997 by the Kit Kat Dark and Kit Kat Mint. All three were available as permanent editions of the two-finger multipack in the United Kingdom, along with the Kit Kat Original,
6864-629: The cacao beans into an alcoholic beverage . Chocolate was extremely important to several Mesoamerican societies, and cacao was considered a gift from the gods by the Mayans and the Aztecs . The cocoa bean was used as a currency across civilizations and was used in ceremonies, as a tribute to leaders and gods and as a medicine. Chocolate in Mesoamerica was a bitter drink, flavored with additives such as vanilla , earflower and chili , and
6968-435: The chocolate can show the quality and whether it was stored well. One hundred grams of milk chocolate supplies 540 calories . It is 59% carbohydrates (52% as sugar and 3% as dietary fiber ), 30% fat and 8% protein (table). Approximately 65% of the fat in milk chocolate is saturated , mainly palmitic acid and stearic acid , while the predominant unsaturated fat is oleic acid (table). 100-grams of milk chocolate
7072-915: The chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, a combination of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and added vegetable oils and sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder . White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but no cocoa solids. Chocolate is one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world, and many foodstuffs involving chocolate exist, particularly desserts , including cakes , pudding , mousse , brownies , and chocolate chip cookies . Many candies are filled with or coated with sweetened chocolate. Chocolate bars , either made of solid chocolate or other ingredients coated in chocolate, are eaten as snacks. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes (such as eggs, hearts, and coins) are traditional on certain Western holidays, including Christmas , Easter , Valentine's Day , and Hanukkah . Chocolate
7176-436: The chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, which combines chocolate with sugar . The traditional types of chocolate are dark , milk and white . All of them contain cocoa butter , which is the ingredient defining the physical properties of chocolate (consistency and melting temperature). Plain (or dark) chocolate, as it name suggests, is a form of chocolate that is similar to pure cocoa liquor , although
7280-437: The chocolate or using it for any use that requires melting the chocolate. Chocolate is generally stored away from other foods, as it can absorb different aromas. Ideally, chocolates are packed or wrapped, and placed in proper storage with the correct humidity and temperature. Additionally, chocolate is frequently stored in a dark place or protected from light by wrapping paper. The glossy shine, snap, aroma, texture, and taste of
7384-487: The chocolate taste. After fermentation, the beans must be dried to prevent mold growth. Climate and weather permitting, this is done by spreading the beans out in the sun from five to seven days. In some growing regions (for example, Tobago ), the dried beans are then polished for sale by "dancing the cocoa": spreading the beans onto a floor, adding oil or water, and shuffling the beans against each other using bare feet. In an alternative process known as moist incubation,
7488-507: The company, which was finalized in December 2017. In 2018, Ferrara's parent company Ferrero SpA purchased Nestlé 's U.S. candy line for $ 2.8 billion and handed responsibility for most products to Ferrara. Former Nestlé products now distributed in the U.S. by Ferrara include Butterfinger , Crunch , Baby Ruth , Raisinets , Nips, Laffy Taffy , and hard candy (such as Spree and Everlasting Gobstopper ) formerly produced by Nestlé under
7592-443: The daily lead oral limit. "Moreover chocolate may not be the only source of lead in their nutrition" and "chocolate might be a significant source of cadmium and lead ingestion, particularly for children." According to a 2005 study, the average lead concentration of cocoa beans is ≤ 0.5 ng/g, which is one of the lowest reported values for a natural food. However, during cultivation and production, chocolate may absorb lead from
7696-523: The draw. Many varieties of Kit Kat have existed, either permanently or as limited editions, such as those sold to commemorate festivals such as Valentine's Day . In Japan, Nestlé has introduced over 300 different flavours since 2000, including hot sauce , soy sauce , wasabi , apple cider vinegar , zunda , Ice cream , milk tea , and cough drop . They have even introduced a range that require baking in an oven. The flavours are designed to appeal to younger buyers, and are often bought as good-luck gifts as
7800-539: The early 20th century, British chocolate producers including Cadbury and Fry's faced controversy over the labor conditions in the Portuguese cacao industry in Africa. A 1908 report by a Cadbury agent described conditions as "de facto slavery." While conditions somewhat improved with a boycott by chocolate makers, slave labor among African cacao growers again gained public attention in the early 21st century. During
7904-492: The environment (such as in atmospheric emissions of now unused leaded gasoline). The European Food Safety Authority recommended a tolerable weekly intake for cadmium of 2.5 micrograms per kg of body weight for Europeans, indicating that consuming chocolate products caused exposure of about 4% among all foods eaten. Maximum levels for baby foods and chocolate/cocoa products were established under Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/2014. 1986 California Proposition 65 requires
8008-485: The environment, ferment the pectin -containing material. Yeasts produce ethanol , lactic acid bacteria produce lactic acid , and acetic acid bacteria produce acetic acid . In some cocoa-producing regions an association between filamentous fungi and bacteria (called "cocobiota") acts to produce metabolites beneficial to human health when consumed. The fermentation process, which takes up to seven days, also produces several flavor precursors, that eventually provide
8112-418: The equator because they need about 2000 mm of rainfall a year, and temperatures in the range of 21 to 32 °C (70 to 90 °F). Cacao trees cannot tolerate a temperature lower than 15 °C (59 °F). The sequencing in 2010 of the genome of the cacao tree may allow yields to be improved. Due to concerns about global warming effects on lowland climate in the narrow band of latitudes where cocoa
8216-465: The farming of cocoa in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Child slavery and trafficking associated with the cocoa trade remain major concerns. A 2018 report argued that international attempts to improve conditions for children were doomed to failure because of persistent poverty, the absence of schools, increasing world cocoa demand, more intensive farming of cocoa, and continued exploitation of child labor. Cocoa
8320-407: The high glycemic nature of certain foods, like sugar, corn syrup, and other simple carbohydrates, as potential causes of acne, along with other possible dietary factors. Food, including chocolate, is not typically viewed as addictive . Some people, however, may want or crave chocolate, leading to a self-described term, chocoholic . By some popular myths , chocolate is considered to be
8424-430: The international (voluntary) standard limit for lead in cocoa powder or beans, which is 1 μg of lead per gram. In 2006, the U.S. FDA lowered by one-fifth the amount of lead permissible in candy, but compliance is only voluntary. Studies concluded that "children, who are big consumers of chocolates, may be at risk of exceeding the daily limit of lead; whereas one 10 g cube of dark chocolate may contain as much as 20% of
8528-670: The market, ranging from the half-finger sized Kit Kat Petit in Japan , to the three-fingered variants in Arabia, and the twelve-finger family-size bars in Australia and France. Kit Kat bars are sold individually and in bags, boxes and multi-packs. Kit Kat bars are produced in 16 countries by Nestlé: Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, and Algeria. Kit Kat bars in
8632-463: The members enjoying a Kit Kat "Break." A 1989 UK television commercial for Kit Kat, in which a zoo photographer "takes a break" from waiting for pandas to appear in an enclosure and misses them performing a dance routine, came in 30th in Channel 4 's " The 100 Greatest TV Ads " poll in 2000. In late 2004 through to the end of 2006, Nestlé Rowntree sponsored the English football club York City F.C. As
8736-426: The mouth. The length of the conching process determines the final smoothness and quality of the chocolate. High-quality chocolate is conched for about 72 hours, and lesser grades about four to six hours. After the process is complete, the chocolate mass is stored in tanks heated to about 45 to 50 °C (113 to 122 °F) until final processing. After conching, chocolate is tempered. This process aims to create
8840-490: The purchase of Rowntree's, giving Nestlé global control over the brand, except in the US, and production and distribution increased with new facilities in Japan and additional manufacturing operations set up in Malaysia, India and China . The Hershey Company has a licence to produce Kit Kat bars in the United States which dates from 1970, when Hershey executed a licensing agreement with Rowntree which allowed Hershey to retain
8944-464: The risk of kidney stones . In sufficient amounts, the theobromine found in chocolate is toxic to animals such as cats, dogs, horses, parrots, and small rodents because they are unable to metabolize the chemical effectively. If animals are fed chocolate, the theobromine may remain in the circulation for up to 20 hours, possibly causing epileptic seizures , heart attacks , internal bleeding , and eventually death. Medical treatment performed by
9048-586: The shell of each bean is removed to extract the nib. The nibs are ground and liquefied, resulting in pure chocolate liquor . The liquor can be further processed into cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Producers of high-quality, small-batch chocolate argue that mass production produces bad-quality chocolate. Some mass-produced chocolate contains much less cocoa (as low as 7% in many cases), and fats other than cocoa butter. Vegetable oils and artificial vanilla flavor are often used in cheaper chocolate to mask poorly fermented and/or roasted beans. The penultimate process
9152-488: The terms Kit Cat and Kit Kat. The names were not used immediately and Kit Kat first appeared in the 1920s, when Rowntree's launched a brand of boxed chocolates entitled Kit Cat. This continued into the 1930s, when Rowntree's shifted focus and production onto its Black Magic and Dairy Box brands. With the promotion of alternative products, the Kit Cat brand decreased and was eventually discontinued. The original four-finger bar
9256-461: The top ten " earworms " – bits of melody that become stuck in your head. Another version of the advertising jingle 'Gimme a break' created for Kit Kat "Factory" commercial in the US was an original recording by Andrew W.K. W.K. was hired to write a new musical version for their "Gimme a break" slogan. Variations on the Andrew W.K. advertisement included executive dance routines in corporate offices and
9360-717: The traditional Kit Kat have continued to be developed since then. In 2000, Nestlé acquired Fujiya's share of the brand in Japan, and also expanded its marketplace in Japan, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela, in addition to markets in Eastern and Central Europe . Throughout the decade, Kit Kat introduced dozens of flavours and line extensions within specific consumer markets. In September 2010, Kit Kat (and Aero ) celebrated its 75th anniversary. Nestlé stated, "Since that momentous day in 1935, Kit Kat has firmly established itself in British culture, spreading its chocolate fingers far and wide that
9464-453: The tree using a machete , or by knocking them off the tree using a stick. It is important to harvest the pods when they are fully ripe, because if the pod is unripe, the beans will have a low cocoa butter content, or low sugar content, reducing the ultimate flavor. The beans (which are sterile within their pods) and their surrounding pulp are removed from the pods and placed in piles or bins to ferment. Micro-organisms , present naturally in
9568-474: The way it had been produced by the Aztecs. Starting in the 18th century, chocolate production was improved. In the 19th century, engine-powered milling was developed, and in 1828, Coenraad Johannes van Houten received a patent for a process making Dutch cocoa . This removed cocoa butter from chocolate liquor (the product of milling), and permitted large scale production of chocolate. Other developments in
9672-535: Was announced that the four-finger variety of Kit Kat would use Fairtrade chocolate (at least in Britain and Ireland) from January 2010. The Fairtrade Kit Kat promotion was extended to the two-finger edition in January 2010. In June 2020, Nestlé announced that KitKat was to end its relationship with the non-profit organisation, Fairtrade , instead choosing to source its cocoa for KitKat chocolate bars from farms with
9776-409: Was believed to be an aphrodisiac and medicine, and spread across Europe in the 17th century, sweetened, served warm and flavored with familiar spices. It was initially primarily consumed by the elite, with expensive cocoa supplied by colonial plantations in the Americas. In the 18th century, it was considered southern European, aristocratic and Catholic and was still produced in a similar way to
9880-411: Was capped with a dark brown foam created by pouring the liquid from a height between containers. While Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés may have been the first European to encounter chocolate when he observed it in the court of Moctezuma II in 1520, it proved to be an acquired taste, and it took until 1585 for the first official recording of a shipment of cocoa beans to Europe. Chocolate
9984-478: Was changed to flow wrap plastic . Foil and paper wrapping is still used for Kit Kats sold as part of a multipack. In 2020, Kit Kat won the Lausanne Index Prize - Best of Packaging. After launching in the 1930s, Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp was originally advertised with the slogans "the biggest little meal" and "the perfect companion to a cup of tea ". During World War II, Kit Kat was depicted as
10088-532: Was christened the Ferrara Candy Company and placed under the leadership of Ferrara Pan Chief Executive Salvatore Ferrara II. Ferrara Candy is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates seven manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as distribution centers around the United States. The company sells 92% of all mellowcremes in the U.S.; it is the largest producer of candy canes,
10192-447: Was developed after a worker at Rowntree's York Factory put a suggestion in a recommendation box for a snack that "a man could take to work in his pack". The bar was officially launched in September 1935, under the title of Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp (priced at 2 d ), and was sold in London and throughout southern England. Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp in 1937. The colour scheme and first flavour variation to
10296-557: Was exported to Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1957, Donald Gilles, the executive at JWT London, created the iconic advertising line "Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat". The brand further expanded in the 1970s when Rowntree created a new distribution factory in Germany to meet European demand and established agreements to distribute the brand in the US through the Hershey company, and in Japan through Fujiya . In June 1988, Swiss company Nestlé acquired Kit Kat through
10400-544: Was formed from a 2012 merger of the Illinois -based Ferrara Pan Candy Company and Minnesota -based Farley's & Sathers Candy Company . Ferrara's product line includes the brands of Ferrara-branded pan candy (such as Lemonheads , Atomic Fireballs , Red Hots , and Original Boston Baked Beans ) and those of Farley's & Sathers (such as Brach's , Chuckles , Jujyfruits , and Now and Later ). In November 2017, The Ferrero Group announced that they were going to acquire
10504-402: Was launched in 1936. It was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp in 1937, and just Kit Kat after World War II. Since making its first television appearance in a British commercial in 1958, the slogan for the Kit Kat in the UK and elsewhere has been "Have a break... have a Kit Kat". Since 1986 in the US, the jingle used in television advertisements has been "Gimme a break, Gimme a break, Break me off
10608-557: Was launched in Malaysia. Comes with the box of 20 small bars, the Kit Kat Rubies bar made with the premium chocolate truffle cream and imported roasted hazelnut pieces. As of 2017, US variants include the standard and king-size four-finger bars, standard bars covered with white or dark chocolate, snack-size orange-covered bars for Halloween (sold until 2021 and replaced with Breaking Bones starting in 2022), bagged wrapped one-finger miniatures (original and assorted), unwrapped minis,
10712-926: Was revealed to be (or at least contain) crushed up Kit Kat, in BBC Two 's Inside the Factory . Original Kit Kat ingredients unless otherwise stated, listed by decreasing weight: milk chocolate ( sugar , milk ingredients, cocoa butter , cocoa mass , whey powder , lactose , soya lecithin , polyglycerol polyricinoleate , natural flavour), wheat flour , sugar, modified palm oil , cocoa , sodium bicarbonate , soya lecithin, yeast , and natural flavour. Milk chocolate (66%) (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, dried whole milk , cocoa mass, lactose and proteins from whey, whey powder, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), butterfat, flavouring), wheat flour, sugar, vegetable fat, cocoa mass, yeast, raising agent (sodium bicarbonate), salt, emulsifier (soya lecithin), flavourings. In 2006,
10816-541: Was the winner by having 47% of votes. A similar campaign occurred in 2013 with mint, coconut, hazelnut and chocolate fudge. In September 2013, it was announced that version 4.4 of Google 's Android mobile operating system would be named "KitKat". Google licensed the name from Nestlé , with no money changing hands. A promotion ran in numerous countries with specially branded Android Kit Kat bars to win Nexus 7 devices and Google Play Store credit. In December 2009, it
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