this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
559 points (98.9% liked)

Mildly Interesting

21691 readers
1084 users here now

This is for strictly mildly interesting material. If it's too interesting, it doesn't belong. If it's not interesting, it doesn't belong.

This is obviously an objective criteria, so the mods are always right. Or maybe mildly right? Ahh.. what do we know?

Just post some stuff and don't spam.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] cabbage@piefed.social 196 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (2 children)

American government: Builds concentration camps

Mexican government: Develops brand new chocolate bars

I'm happy to see there are still some governments out there who rule in the interest of the people.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 37 points 14 hours ago

A high quality chocolate bar, at that.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] granolabar@kbin.melroy.org 69 points 18 hours ago

American slop producers in shambles

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 66 points 14 hours ago (5 children)

Not objecting, but what is the motivation of the Mexican government to do this? Have they done similar things before?

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 58 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

I don't think they've done something exactly like this, but they have aggressively tackled obesity in recent years, going as far as labeling all foods with excess fats, salt, and sugar. It's very visible on the package and it does influence what I buy.

But this is the way I found out we're doing this now. 😅

[–] boaratio@lemmy.world 30 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

But also I think because all the existing cocoa producers are evil enslavers. This will help something like 1800 Mexican farmers.

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 15 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Nestle is notoriously evil - I'm hoping Mexico can compete

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 8 points 8 hours ago

they have aggressively tackled obesity in recent years

Actually doing something? Good on them!

[–] sunflowercowboy@feddit.org 22 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

Government should probably provide the cheapest food and set the standard.

However ideology like this leads to issues in reality.

If a competitor gets lower prices would hint at some questionability. Government correction becomes suppression. Suppression leads to . . .?

[–] Brickhead92@lemmy.world 20 points 10 hours ago

Less profits for shareholders? And that is unacceptable!

/s

[–] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 14 points 7 hours ago

Uhh what?

It’s called competition. Having a competitor in the market who’s goal is to keep people fed instead of making money hand over fist would both bring prices down and bring quality up on higher priced items.

If we have to do capitalism, let’s get some not-for-profit competition happening.

[–] 3abas@lemmy.world 11 points 6 hours ago

However ideology like this leads to issues in reality.

Issues for who? The consumer? Or the capitalists?

If a competitor gets lower prices would hint at some questionability.

It would hint that it's a shitty product, presuming no foul play by the government and the product is not overpriced (doesn't appear to be).

Government correction becomes suppression. Suppression leads to . . .?

Government correction how? From suppression I think you mean lowering their price? The scenario you're laying out doesn't make sense.

The point of this kind of product is to be the baseline, no capitalist should be able to afford to offer the same product for less, because the government already has the lowest possible margin.

You start by making a better product, and you can charge whatever people decide the improved product is worth. It's a good thing that an asshole capitalist can't market a $7 bar of chocolate when a very good quality one is $1. At that price difference, your chocolate better be amazing.

[–] Sagan_Wept@lemmynsfw.com 13 points 14 hours ago (2 children)
load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 37 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

If you haven't had chocolate with vanilla in it, consider trying it. It's my favorite chocolate additive. You need to purge ideas about vanilla being sweet or creamy. It's a tobaccoy rich flavor that adds some depth even to dark chocolate.

[–] CannedYeet@lemmy.world 5 points 10 hours ago

Since I discovered dark chocolate ice cream, I've been dying for someone to make a dark chocolate and vanilla twist soft serve.

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

As a kid we'd make our own milkshakes at home and the best ones we came up with were vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 32 points 17 hours ago

Not the news I was expecting but kind of a cool way to address a variety of issues, like obesity, imports from US, generating revenue, subsidizing a national crop, etc.

[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 26 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (13 children)

Don't get me wrong, I don't ~~Mexico to sell~~ mind Mexico selling chocolate but why are they thinking this is part of their job as government??

[–] quetzaldilla@lemmy.world 40 points 17 hours ago

Cacao is a national treasure, and America floods Mexico with Hershey's, Snickers, and other subpar "chocolate" and destroys local competition with cheap prices.

Fun fact:

The word "chocolate" is derived from the Nahuatl word Xocholatl (chikola-tl).

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 37 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Mexico has been trying a lot to reduce obesity through various product labeling. This looks like a step in that direction; a snack that uses an indigenous ingredient (chocolate) in a manner that complies with federal guidelines.

[–] BigMacHole@sopuli.xyz 19 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

You mean Mexico made certain Goods MORE Expensive but then Offered a Public alternative so people don't HAVE to pay the Increase in Price?

That's STUPID! They should just Slap a TARIFF on it WITHOUT Investment or Alternatives and let their Citizens deal with the Price increase!

[–] sundray@lemmus.org 6 points 16 hours ago

They could be making their businesses “eat” the tariffs, but instead their people are eating good chocolate? That’s it, I’m heading down there, I’m sold.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world 24 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Try chocolate that wasn't made in America... Then imagine living a country with some of the best ingredients for chocolate making, and only seeing American chocolate on your store shelves... If capitalism is breaking stuff, the government is pretty much the only ones that can fix it. Though when the government is the thing that capitalism is breaking, I can see why you might not want them to do more than they currently do.

Government is supposed to be about pooling money so it can be more efficiently and effectively spent. Economies of scale. Even if the government only half does what you want and half does stuff you don't care about, you are still getting better bang for your buck than if you tried to use your own tiny amounts of money to buy the half you do want.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 10 points 15 hours ago (7 children)

Try chocolate that wasn't made in America...

I'm actually very fond of the US but the chocolate is absolute filth, sorry lads. I was so excited to try Hershey's and holy moly was it an earth shattering disappointment.

[–] kayakdaddy@lemmy.world 7 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Born and bred in America and won’t eat American chocolate - literally tastes like vomit. And I do mean literally - Hershey’s chocolate goes through a process called lipolysis that breaks down their milk some and introduces butyric acid, which gives Parmesan, sour cream and other pungent dairy foods (and vomit) their smells.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (6 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] ignirtoq@fedia.io 21 points 18 hours ago

I don't follow Mexican politics closely, but this could be part of an effort to curb obesity. I've heard they introduced taxes on sugary drinks for this, so this might be another avenue.

If people are wanting cheap snacks, and private companies are only making unhealthy ones, you can introduce regulations to micromanage what they can produce, or you can introduce a complex taxation process to disincentivize sugar snacks. Or you can introduce your own product that meets a perceived unmet demand in an underserved market.

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 20 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Governments subsidize foods all the time. Yours probably does, too.

Mexico already has Welfare Stores, and this bar is being made in co-op with Food for Wellness.

https://www.informador.mx/mexico/Chocolate-del-Bienestar-en-ESTAS-tiendas-podras-comprarlo-20250710-0131.html

[–] modifier@lemmy.ca 5 points 13 hours ago

I’m barely old enough to remember government cheese.

[–] londos@lemmy.world 11 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Government is the things we choose to do together. If the people choose healthy chocolate, then that's the job.

load more comments (1 replies)

That might be one of the best bang par buck moves possible from their health care department.

[–] br3d@lemmy.world 6 points 18 hours ago

Because they tried leaving it to the private sector and people got unhealthy from eating cheap refined carbs?

[–] 3abas@lemmy.world 5 points 6 hours ago

It is. They've got you conditioned to accept that government is just there to hurt you, it's supposed to make society worth living in.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 17 points 10 hours ago
[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 12 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

50% is a little low for my taste. I wish it was more like 40 60 80. I'd be going for the 80. Or maybe just 50 & 70. I can live with 70.

[–] outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Others say it's to fight chiodhood obesity, kids dont tend to like dark/good chocolate.

[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 9 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Idk, my kids love dark chocolate but also I hate milk chocolate so they haven't had much of it.

[–] outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Well your spawn have unusually good taste. This is not normal.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Damaskox@lemmy.world 11 points 11 hours ago

I'd love to have a taste.

Too bad I live in Northern Europe...probably not worth buying via the Internet even if it was possible...

[–] match@pawb.social 9 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

how are the labor practices

[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 16 points 15 hours ago (10 children)
load more comments (10 replies)
[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 9 points 14 hours ago
[–] glitchdx@lemmy.world 8 points 16 hours ago (4 children)

so when do we see nestle/mars/whoever try to kill this?

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 5 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Why does this post read like some kind of advertising bot posted it

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›