I’VE NOTICED A WHITE/GREY FILM ON THE CHOCOLATE COATING
Q: I’ve noticed a white/grey film on the chocolate coating on some of my Hammer Whey Protein Bars and Chocolate-Peanut Vegan Protein Bars, and occasionally on the chocolate-containing flavors of Hammer Bars. What causes this and are they okay to consume?
A: The appearance that you see on the chocolate coating of the protein bars, as well as on the chocolate-containing flavors of Hammer Bars, is due to the natural composition of the chocolate coating and the likelihood that it was shipped in warm weather and/or sitting in a warm delivery truck.
This effect is called “blooming” and it’s when the oils separate and then harden. There are chemical emulsifiers that prevent this, but since the blooming effect is completely harmless—and also because we don’t want to put unnecessary chemicals in the product—we opted to not use emulsifiers. The bars are 100% acceptable for consumption.