Leading Chocolate Makers Claim World Is Running out of Chocolate

Apparently we’re eating way too much chocolate. We’re not talking stomachache numbers, but more like world-shattering numbers. Mars Inc. and Barry Callebaut, the two leading manufacturers of chocolate in the world, are claiming that at this rate we’re going to consume all the chocolate in the world, reports the Washington Post.

A couple of issues have developed in recent years leading to chocolate price hikes.

Dry weather is a huge issue in West Africa, which produces more than 70 percent of the world’s cocoa. Because of the less-than-fertile conditions, production has been cut 30 to 40 percent. China is also developing quite the sweet tooth as it is purchasing more chocolate every year, causing concern for the supply.

Thanks to these contributing factors, cocoa prices have risen by more than 60 percent since 2012. Chocolate manufacturers were required to raise prices to adjust to cocoa costs.

Responding to this foreseen disaster of chocolate proportions, agricultural research groups in West Africa are working to develop special trees that are able to produce seven times as many cocoa beans, although taste will be compromised.

Pretty soon we might be eating chocolate-flavored candy instead of actual chocolate. Terrifying.

H/T Washington Post