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Sic Semper Tyrannis

Friday, November 25, 2005

Choclate City USA without the chocolate smell?

When we drive through it, many of us have enjoyed the smell of chocolate that wafts over Burlington, Wisconsin. Well, enjoy that Nestle chocolatey goodness, because it may have a short future. The EPA is going to be ending the chocolate scent in another U.S. city less known for it: Chicago.
For decades, commuters and tourists have delighted in the mouthwatering smells wafting over the city from the Blommer Chocolate Co. factory.

Now, that aroma is about to disappear, courtesy of federal regulators.

The family-run company, which makes chocolate liquor and cocoa butter among other products, was cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating clean-air regulations and is now installing equipment that will reduce its emissions -- and stop the smell.

The Blommer factory is a little bit older than the Nestle plant in Burlington, so this EPA action is no way a guarentee that other chocolate cities will have their sugary scents taken away from them. But given that these chocolate scents are the result of plant emissions, one has if the EPA has "Big Chocolate" in its cross hairs. If they do, hopefully "Big Cat Food" will be next (inside joke for those of you who have driven through Jefferson, Wisconsin).