Known as ‘the Vegan Willy Wonka’, Ling says the event has been a celebration of all things vegan chocolatey, from white to dark high cocoa chocolate, from ice cream to vegan chocolate cakes, from premium bars to everyday snacks.
“I’m so excited the second world vegan chocolate day will once again celebrate all positive things about vegan chocolate. In this past year, there have been so many developments and product launches that puts vegan chocolate on the map.”
Falling at the end of Veganuary makes this day (31 January) ‘the dessert’ of the campaign, claims Ling. In 2022 Ling recognised that WVCD should go a little further than just promoting all things vegan chocolate, but also serve as a reminder that compassion for animals, concern for the environment and all the elements that motivate growth in vegan, also encompasses and values those people and communities that produce the cocoa.
As more manufacturers get involved each year the 2023 World Vegan Chocolate day will add a new message to its celebrations, said Ling.
“The day will also focus on the many inconsistencies that alternative chocolate producers face. Namely the crazy chocolate labelling regulations in which the existing rules do not allow for the description ‘chocolate’. Alternative producers can add more cocoa in their products and still not be allowed to call it chocolate simply because vegans choose to use oat, rice, or other similar ‘milkying’ ingredients as an alternative to dairy milk. Its about time regulations stopped discriminating against vegans."