> ## 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. # Updated: March News & AMA | #PSC 186 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/march-news-ama-psc-186/ - Published: 2026-03-04T18:22:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-14T17:28:37.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 186 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 March 2026. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream šŸ—“ļø Episode 186 streamed on Friday, March 6th, 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/3Cf2pgmux5w?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/3Cf2pgmux5w?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-7435024200664330240-Tf%5Fi?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-7435024200664330240-Tf%5Fi?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/1AmKQXYuRb/) 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/1AmKQXYuRb/) --- ## **Episode 186 Overview** In this episode: ***Chocolate News thatā€™s Fit to Eatā„¢*** for March, 2026! šŸ’” People participating live can Ask Me Anything in the chat at any point during the episode. šŸ—“ļø The ****March Member AMA call** is scheduled for Sunday, the 15th, beginning at 11:00 am Arizona time (keep in mind this is **after* Daylight Saving Time happens here in the US, so your time ***may** change). The link to participate will be in the March member newsletter. ### **The Ongoing Saga of the Cost of Cocoa** | **MARKETS** | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [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) ā€“ Barchart.com | | [Graph](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/cocoa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) ā€“ Trading Economics | | [ICCO Pricing Stats](https://www.icco.org/statistics/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Reality Check #1:** The Ghanaian government, via Cocobod, cut the official farmā€‘gate price to 41,392 Ghana cedis per metric ton for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. The Ivorian government announced a sharp reduction in the guaranteed price to 1,200 CFA francs per kilogram, i.e. 1,200,000 CFA per metric ton. **At current mid-market FX, Ghana ā‰ˆ $3,833/MT and Ivory Coast ā‰ˆ $2,120/MT.** | | **Reality Check #2:** Is ā€œ[TogetherCocoa](https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2026/02/24/mars-mondelez-nestle-hershey-and-lindt-team-up-to-protect-cocoa-and-support-growers/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)ā€ Big Chocolateā€™s next new bright shiny attempt at greenwashing (and market collusion)? Is it an admission that World Cocoa Foundation initiatives are ineffective and feckless? [Google News](https://news.google.com/search?q=TogetherCocoa&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&ref=thechocolatelife.com) | [The Continuing Cases Against Big Chocolate | #PSC 183OVERVIEW: Episode 183 features an interview with Terry Collingsworth of International Rights Advocates, updating the (legal) cases against Big Chocolate in the US. Along the way, weā€™ll take a look at their history, too. \[ Updated \]![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-410.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-183-IRAdvocates---Featured1920x1080-1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/the-continuing-cases-against-big-chocolate-psc-183/) Recent related coverage on TheChocolateLife. --- ## **More News** | **File It Under** | browsing headlines | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Googley** | [News](https://news.google.com/search?q=chocolate&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Chocolate Honey** | [From Brazil](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260228093508.htm?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **[Recall](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts?ref=thechocolatelife.com)** | [Rhino Choco VIP 10X (Brooklyn)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chocolate-supplement-recalled-erectile-dysfunction-drug-rhino-choco-vip-10x/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [FDA](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/usa-less-co-recalling-rhino-choco-vip-10x-due-undeclared-tadalafil?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Recall** | [Lockout Supplements (TX)](https://pix11.com/news/local-news/chocolate-syrup-boner-bears-recalled-nationwide-due-hidden-drug-fda/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [FDA](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lockout-supplements-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-boner-bears-chocolate-syrup-due-undeclared?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Recall** | [Mondelēz Brookies ā€“ FDA](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mondelez-global-llc-expands-voluntary-recall-2-skus-chips-ahoy-baked-bites-brookie-usa-previous?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Recall** | [Spring & Mulberry ā€“ FDA](https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/spring-mulberry-expands-voluntary-recall-select-chocolate-bars-due-possible-salmonella-contamination?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | --- ### **Added Resources** Mentioned during the episode. [DIIS\_Report\_02\_The\_promise\_and\_pitfalls\_WEBTHE PROMISES AND PITFALLS OF GLOBAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVESDIIS\_Report\_02\_The\_promise\_and\_pitfalls\_WEB.pdf1 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/03/DIIS%5FReport%5F02%5FThe%5Fpromise%5Fand%5Fpitfalls%5FWEB.pdf "Download") [March News & AMA | #PSC 186 | Clay GordonWe donā€™t know much about #TogetherCocoa ā€“ no more than a press release and some embarrassingly fawning surface-level industry coverage of the release ā€“ but that is going to change with todayā€™s episode of #PodSaveChocolate, during which it will be a primary topic of my coverage. One thing I can confidently predict is that the executive hires and board appointments the TogetherCocoa Foundation makes will tell us everything we need to know about how serious they are. The Why: The hiring and appointment processes are one of the few hard levers TogetherCocoa controls on day one. If they get this wrong, the ā€œmore of the sameā€ critique will stick ... no matter what else they do. The What: The combination of structural design (bylaws, quotas, conflict of interest guidelines), process transparency (how people are chosen), and incentive alignment (what leaders are paid to achieve) is what will ultimately determine whether ā€œmore of the sameā€ is a fair critique. Ā»Ā»Ā» If TogetherCocoa is serious (and smart), those decisions need to be made ā€“ and made public and subject to public comment ā€“ before the first photo op. Some Stats: The five founding companies combined for over US$87 billion in turnover (according to Candy Industry Magazineā€™s 2025 Top 100 compilation). Three of the five are headquartered in the US, and the other two are in Switzerland. Mars and MondelĆ©z are currently in court in the US in a consumer protection lawsuit alleging they knowingly misrepresented their efforts and successes in eradicating illegal labor in their cocoa supply chains in W Africa. A Question: Does anyone else see the potential for continued abuse of market power by TogetherCocoa? The who: The Hershey Company Mars Mondelēz International NestlĆ© Lindt & SprĆ¼ngli Terry Collingsworth https://lnkd.in/gT2U3JHm![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/al2o9zrvru7aqj8e1x2rzsrca-34)LinkedInClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1772812910293)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fmarch-news-ama-psc-186-activity-7435720370625789952-TOaw?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This is my post on TogetherCocoa. It references this episode which is why the preview is the same. [Salmonella Control GuidelinesThis is an extensive overviewSalmonella Control Guidelines.pdf943 KBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2026/03/Salmonella-Control-Guidelines.pdf "Download") [Evaluation of the Thermal Inactivation of a Salmonella Serotype Oranienburg Strain During Cocoa Roasting at Conditions Relevant to the Fine Chocolate Industry - PMCCocoa roasting produces and enhances distinct flavor of chocolate and acts as a critical control point for inactivation of foodborne pathogens in chocolate production. In this study, the inactivation kinetics of Salmonella enterica subsp. entericaā€¦![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-29.png)NCBI home page![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/fmicb-12-576337-g001.jpg)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7982832/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) A recent paper on the topic TL;DR - A reduction of >5 log10 CFU/bean can be achieved with 10-min roasting at 150Ā°C. - The predicted times needed to achieve a 5-log10 reduction of *Salmonella* at temperatures of 100, 110, 115, 120, 130, and 140Ā°C were 239, 146, 95, 53, and 10 min, respectively. - Increasing the ambient humidity in the roasting chamber *will* shorten these times. *E Coli* was not separately tested but is assumed to be equally susceptible. --- ### **Future Episodes** šŸ—“ļø Tuesday, March 10th ****2026 Craft Chocolat Challenge** Preview with Dustin Cornett --- ### **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. 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