Standards of identity have been established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for a number of chocolate and cacao products.
Excess shell is frequently the cause of detention of various standardized cacao products.
Cacao beans offered for import sometimes show damage which bars them from entry. Beans with mold permeating the bean or showing clouds of spores when cracked are objectionable, as are wormy, insect infested beans which may contain live or dead insects, webbing, or insect excreta. Moldy and insect-infested beans should be removed from the lot before shipment. Care should be taken to store beans before and during shipment so that mold and infestation by insects or rodents are prevented.