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When buying whatever kind of food, thus also confectionery products, it is good to make sure whether the goods have not expired or whether their use-by date or best before date will not expire just before or during Christmas. Caution is necessary particularly in this period and it is good to think over, for example, purchases of cut-price confectionery products.

Poor storage can affect the quality, taste, appearance or smell of confectionery products. It is therefore important to observe the storage conditions also at home, particularly temperature conditions specified on the packaging.

Chocolate and chocolate products do not like a humid environment and carrying from warm to cold and vice versa. Chocolate may sometimes “turn grey”. It is not shiny but covered in a thin whitish layer. It can be sugar bloom, when sugar crystallizes on the surface or fat bloom, when a thin layer of cacao butter eliminates itself. It is not however excluded that grey surface could be caused by moulds, especially if chocolate was stored in a humid place. Some other used ingredients – nuts or milk can cause that food will go rancid. Unfortunately, even chocolate can be affected by pests, mainly by cacao moth. Chocolate should not be broken or deformed in a different way. You should not buy such products at all and if you yet bring them home, it is better to reclaim them.

Although inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority have not identified more serious transgressions regarding confectionery products or chocolate in last years, it is advisable to pay attention to their purchase.

More information can be found at www.szpi.gov.cz.