The Brazilian Senate approved a bill establishing minimum cocoa percentages for chocolate and cocoa-derived products [1].
The measure aims to eliminate the sale of "fake" chocolate by aligning national standards with international cocoa content norms [1, 3]. By mandating transparency in ingredients, the law seeks to protect consumers from products that lack the essential characteristics of genuine chocolate [1, 3].
Under the new law, known as PL 1.769/2019 [2], products must adhere to specific cocoa minimums to be marketed as chocolate [2]. Regular chocolate must contain at least 35% cocoa [4], while milk chocolate must maintain a minimum of 25% cocoa [4].
Beyond ingredient minimums, the legislation requires that the cocoa percentage be clearly displayed on the front of the packaging [1, 2]. This labeling requirement is designed to ensure that buyers can easily identify the quality and composition of the product before purchase [1].
Legislators in the Senate chamber in Brasília approved the measure on April 15, 2026 [1, 5]. While most reports confirm this April date, some sources cited a symbolic vote occurring on May 30, 2026 [6]. The bill had previously passed through the Chamber of Deputies before reaching the Senate [1].
Supporters of the bill said the move prevents manufacturers from using excessive substitutes that dilute the flavor and nutritional value of the product [3]. The law creates a legal framework to penalize the sale of sweets that mimic chocolate without meeting these established thresholds [1, 3].
“The measure aims to eliminate the sale of "fake" chocolate.”
This legislation marks a shift toward stricter consumer protection and food standardization in Brazil. By codifying cocoa minimums and mandating front-of-pack labeling, Brazil is reducing the market for low-quality confectionery substitutes and forcing manufacturers to either improve their recipes or rebrand their products as non-chocolate sweets.
