HI,
Cocoa is the powder derived from the cocoa bean and may or may not be
further processed with alkali to change the pH (acidity).  In itself, it is
dairy-free by nature.  Chocolate is the further processing of cocoa and may
or may not contain sugar, dairy, depending on the type and manufacturer.  It
may also be cross-contaminated with nuts or dairy by processing in the same
plant.

For example, Guittard chocolate semi-sweet chips are gluten-free,
dairy-free, and free of any risk of cross contamination with dairy or nuts
because they are made in a different plant.  However, there other
chocolates, like milk chocolate, that MAY or may not be dairy-free-you need
to call and check with each manufacturer.

FYI- There is a Chocolate Emporium that sells kosher (paerve) chocolates and
you can find them on the internet.

Hope this helps.

Jay

-----Original Message-----
From: Theresa Ray <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 6:00 PM
Subject: Chocolate vs cocoa?


>OK, I'm confused. My son is anaphylactic to dairy & eggs, allergic to many
others, not allowed to try
>peanut. I recently decided that restricting chocolate from him is not
ultimately necessary, and I'd
>like to be able to make some chocolate-ridden dairy-free sweets
occasionally (OK, I'm a chocoholic).
>
>If you look on the cocoa box, the ingredients say "100% cocoa".
>
>If you buy unsweetened chocolate bars for baking (watch out, some have
peanut listed in the
>ingredients!), it says "100% chocolate".
>
>What's the difference? Do either contain dairy? How do they make cocoa and
chocolate? I always
>thought that cocoa as derived from the plant itself. Is unsweetened
chocolate just a different
>form of cocoa, or is it a different product altogether? What is safe and
what is not? AAUUGGGHHH!
>
>Thanks in advance for educating me once more.
>
>Theresa Ray
>Mom of Kyle (2 - dairy, eggs, berries, nuts, fish/shellfish, bay leaves,
penicillin, MSG?)
>and BabyRay due in June