> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # August News & AMA | #PSC 224 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/august-news-ama-psc-224/ - Published: 2026-08-10T18:55:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-13T16:54:53.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 224 of #PodSaveChocolate features chocolate and cocoa news fit to eat, as well as the monthly live AMA (Ask Me Anything about chocolate or cocoa) for August 2026. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream šŸ—“ļø Episode 224 streamed on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026\. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/p6QQAuRT3HU?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Participate/Watch on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/p6QQAuRT3HU?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7492653375004717056-jYab?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Participate/Watch on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7492653375004717056-jYab?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/193roEVPKZ/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Participate/Watch on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/193roEVPKZ/) šŸ—“ļø The ****August Member AMA** call is scheduled for Friday the 28th, beginning at 11:30 am PDT/MST following PodSaveChocolate. The link to participate can be found in the August member newsletter. [Share this post!](#/share) --- ## **Episode 224 Overview** In this episode: ***Chocolate News thatā€™s Fit to Eatā„¢*** for August 2026. šŸ’” People participating live can ****Ask Me Anything** *in the chat at any point during the episode.* (\*As long as itā€™s about chocolate or cocoa.) ### **The Ongoing Saga of the Cost of Cocoa** | **MARKETS** | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Barchart.com [Futures Prices](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/futures-prices?ref=thechocolatelife.com) / [Futures Overview](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/overview?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | Trading Economics [Chart](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/cocoa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | TradingCharts.com [1977 Baseline](https://futures.tradingcharts.com/historical/CC/1977/0/continuous.html?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | [ICCO Pricing Stats](https://www.icco.org/statistics/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | **Cameroon**ā€™s marketed cocoa production [fell 20% in the 2025/26 season](https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/cameroon-cocoa-output-falls-20-in-2025-26-season-exports-drop-sharply?ref=thechocolatelife.com), [reversing the previous seasonā€™s growth](https://www.businessincameroon.com/agriculture/0608-16572-cameroons-marketed-cocoa-output-drops-19-9-after-record-harvest?ref=thechocolatelife.com) and reflecting a significant decline in volumes available for export and local processing, the regulator said on Thursday. [**Global cocoa supplies could come under renewed pressure**](https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/worlds-2-largest-cocoa-producing-countries-expected-to-record-10percent-and-16percent-drop-in-output-next-year-2026073110535740461?ref=thechocolatelife.com) as Ghana projects a 16% decline in cocoa production for the 2026/27 season while neighbouring CĆ“te d'Ivoire also expects a smaller harvest due to adverse weather, disease and other production challenges. > At this point, I will show some early prototyping on a visualization showing the difference between constant-dollar pricing and pricing adjusted for inflation. 25th Anniversary Lifetime Membership offer [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/05/brewtubeAvatar512x.png)](https://thechocolatelife.com/25th-anniversary-lifetime-membership-offer/) ****I began my career** as a professional chocolate critic, journalist, consultant, and educator in mid-May 2001\. ****That means** I am celebrating my 25th anniversary as a professional chocolate critic, journalist, consultant, and educator in 2026\. To help me celebrate, I hope you will consider becoming a ***Lifetime** Member! ****This updated special offer is available through December 31, 2026.** [Learn More About Lifetime Membership! ](https://thechocolatelife.com/25th-anniversary-lifetime-membership-offer/) ### **More Headlines** [TCL Weekly Chocolate News Brief: August 3 ā€“ August 9The TCL Weekly Chocolate News Brief is a membership benefit for all Premium (paid) members of TheChocolateLife.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-a23d81c9-4869-48cf-8007-8295ba27f052.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/TheChocolateLifeWeeklyNewsRoundup_Featured1920x1080-a7b24910-d4dc-4e68-8298-f6da368b9ab1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/tcl-weekly-chocolate-news-brief-august-3-august-9/) Published Mondays, for Premium members **Ghana:** Parliament passed a tough new law (contents made public just this weekend) that could [*send cocoa farmers to prison for up to 20 years for converting farmland to other uses without government approval*](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/3/ghana-parliament-backs-tough-cocoa-farm-protections-20-years-prison/?ref=thechocolatelife.com). President Mahama hasn't signed it yet. This ties directly into deforestation/land-use enforcement, even though it's a domestic law rather than an EUDR development. [**A new analysis**](https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/arsenic-in-rice-reducing-risk-a8972350937/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) by Consumer Reports (CR) found ***detectable levels of inorganic arsenic*** in all 52 rice products it tested, suggesting that exposure to the toxic heavy metal from rice remains a persistent concern. The U.S currently has no enforceable federal limit for inorganic arsenic in most rice products. \[Currently, there are no specific federal limits for inorganic arsenic in cacao products in the U.S. However, general food safety regulations apply to contaminants in all food products.\] [International Rights Advocates](https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/international-rights-advocates-v-lindt-sprungli-inc-usa-and-north-america?ref=thechocolatelife.com) **filed suit against Lindt & SprĆ¼ngliā€™s** U.S. and North American subsidiaries under state consumer protection law, alleging that ***the confectionery giant misled buyers about human rights abuses*** tied to its cocoa supply chains in Ghana and CĆ“te d'Ivoire. > **Save the Date:** Terry Collingsworth will be joining me on Friday, September 18th to observe the \[lack of\] progress made since the signing of Harkin-Engel in 2001 and this new lawsuit will be one of the topics we discuss. Filmmaker Miki Mistrati will be joining us. [**Commission Finalizes EUDR Information System Rules as Questions Persist Over Delayed Rollout**](https://cocoaradar.com/commission-finalises-eudr-information-system-rules-as-questions-persist-over-delayed-rollout/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)**.** The European Commission has adopted the long-awaited Implementing Act governing the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Information System, completing one of the final legal steps before the regulation begins applying from the end of 2026\. *The Implementing Act sets the technical rules for the digital platform through which operators will submit due diligence statements and simplified declarations.* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has [**announced four public health priorities**](https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11633-fda-outlines-four-public-health-pillars-reaffirms-food-priorities?ref=thechocolatelife.com) that \[ā€¦\] are intended to guide the agencyā€™s ā€œenduring mission in a new eraā€ amid rapid advances in science, technology, and public health. [According to Growth Market Reports](https://in-confectionery.com/chocolate-market-to-reach-usd-233-8-billion/?ref=thechocolatelife.com), the global [chocolate confectionery market](https://growthmarketreports.com/report/chocolate-confectionery-market-global-industry-analysis?ref=thechocolatelife.com) size reached USD 155.2 billion in 2025, reflecting robust consumer demand and dynamic product innovation across all regions. **The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2026 to 2034**, bringing the total value to approximately USD 233.8 billion by 2034\. *This steady growth trajectory is underpinned by evolving consumer preferences, increased disposable incomes, and the expansion of distribution channels worldwide. The broader confectionery industry continues to serve as a strong foundation for chocolateā€™s sustained commercial momentum.* --- ### **Future Episodes** šŸ—“ļø **Friday, August 14th* ****Ceremonial Cacao ā€œCertificationsā€: Wt** **AF** **?** šŸ—“ļø **Tuesday, August 18th* ****Cocoa and Health** ā€“ new research, with regular ChocolateLife contributor, Keith Ayoob. šŸ—“ļø **Friday, September 18th* ****Celebrating(?) the 25th anniversary of the signing (on Sept 19, 2001) of the Harkin-Engel Protocol** with confirmed special guests Terry Collingsworth and Miki Mistrati. --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #News #AMA #AskMeAnything #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ā‰ļø After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life ā€“ Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for ****Free** to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. Premium memberships from $5/month are also available.