I just realised that it has been ages since I last posted on here. I always plan on doing something for Christmas and the New Year but just about never get around to it – perhaps it’s (hopefully) a sign that I’m having a good time.
Most (if not all) of my readers would know by now that I’m a *strict* soy avoider. I strive to avoid all derivatives of soy including soy lecithin. If a product “may contain traces of soy” I generally ignore the warnings. Even so, remaining on a soy free diet is tremendously difficult in the 21st century.
So, like most years, on Christmas Day, I received a box of chocolates from a friend who I only just got to know a month or two ago.
Kmart Belgian Chocolate Seashells
At first I thanked her, sighed (while she wasn’t looking), and put them to the side. I never said anything about my gluten and soy sensitivities. After the crowd was gone (and just before I threw them in the bin) I checked the ingredient list. I was sure they would definitely be unsafe as belgian (and just about all other) chocolate has soy lecithin in it.
But… I stood corrected.
Ingredients: Sugar, Vegetable Fat, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Hazelnuts (7.8%), Dextrose, Cocoa Mass, Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Skimmed Milk Powder, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin (E322), Natural Flavouring.
Allergen Advice: Contains Tree Nuts (Hazelnuts) and Milk.
May Contain traces of other Nuts, Peanuts, Soy and Gluten.
As printed on the back of the box:
Kmart Belgian Chocolate Seashells Ingredient Listing
Manufacturer unknown…
I was ecstatic. With this information, I decided to dive in head first and try the chocolates. I took one of each variety of seashell and indulged myself. I suffered no ill effects. The chocolates were delicious (just like the Guylian Seashells I used to eat when I was so little, which do contain soy lecithin) and others who tried them couldn’t tell the difference. It was so good to finally have discovered a soy free chocolate that might just be within easy reach for a while. I’ll be stocking up for sure.
For everyone here, we have an affordable soy free chocolate gift available to us in Australia at Kmart. Get in quick while stocks last!
I'm Amy Backs (aka Gluten Free, Soy Free Aussie) and am allergic to soy as well as being coeliac. This blog is primarily devoted to me telling of my lifestyle as well as providing tips, recipes, food suggestions and more particularly to assist those with soy allergies. I know of many with even more restrictive diets than myself, with multiple intolerances lurking in society, and am also keen to hear of your experiences (wherever you may be). 
Jan 16, 2013 @ 18:12:45
Lovely….but I would have had to pass. Even though the soy was missing, the “Dextrose” and “Natural flavoring”…would trigger the bright yellow with black crosses in my mind..msg alerts would go off…swelling and pain memory’s started flashing just now as I read them…dang!
Jan 16, 2013 @ 20:15:50
Excellent point Cj. I called up about it and they said there are no soy derivatives. Soybean oil and soy lecithin have to be declared down under even when used as flavoring. Required by FSANZ.
Jan 16, 2013 @ 20:19:35
But yes, I’m still uncertain about msg. That’s why Amedei is still unbeatable (in terms of chocolate) IMO. :p
May 11, 2013 @ 19:15:06
Hi Amy, having only just found your blog I was a bit excited upon reading about this! “safe” chocolate yeh! With mothers day practically upon us I thought the chances of these being in stock would be good & I wasn’t dissapointed, until that is I scanned the ingrediants, with soy beingamong them ( not in the “may contain” but as a definate ingrediant) I maybe wrong, but I’m sure I was looking at the ones you talk of. If i’ve made a mistake apologies & yippee chocolate still an option, but well worth checking if this is yet another safe food that has soy now added?