February 4/Indianapolis -- Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) has added a dairy- and gluten-free filled bar line to its natural bar line-up. The new line features six fillings:  almond butter creme, sea salt and lime creme, coconut creme, blueberry vanilla creme, raspberry orange creme and lavender mint creme all surrounded by 72% dark chocolate. This is the first natural dairy- and gluten-free filled bar line in the chocolate industry, the company claims. 

This new line combines the company's signature 72% dark chocolate with decadent, dairy-free creme. As with all ESC dark chocolate products, all bars feature ethically traded, sustainably grown chocolate and are nonGMO Verified and gluten-free and vegan certified. All the bars also include an educational inner wrapper info-graphic that details each species' conservation status and promotes wildlife non-profits that work to protect each animal.

"When we set out to develop this innovative new product line we knew that there would be challenges along the way," says Whitney Bembenick, Research & Development manager for Endangered Species Chocolate. "From formulation to the first full production run we faced each of those challenges without compromising our high standards for making a quality, premium product.  The result is a set of bars that are truly in a class of their own."

The new filling will feature certified sustainable single-source, organic palm oil that is supply-chain certified by Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and EcoSocial IBD.  As a champion for the environment, ESC aims to lead the way in promoting a sustainable palm oil option to support species, habitat and humanity.

"Being an eco-conscious company we wanted to be on the forefront of using sustainable palm oil in our filling for these products," says Bembenick.  "By utilizing it as the dairy-free creme base in our filled bars we're able to develop new and innovative vegan-friendly flavors such as our sea salt and lime creme bar.  These flavors are commonly used in many types of cuisine, but pairing them together with the richness of our dark chocolate and smooth creme results in a bright, fresh experience for the pallet.  This flavor profile would not have been achieved without the use of sustainable palm oil."

The bars will be available at natural food stores, conventional supermarkets and on the company's website.