As a food safety expert with over a decade of experience in the industry, I can assure you that the presence of rat feces in chocolate is an extremely rare occurrence and not a common issue. The chocolate industry adheres to strict hygiene and manufacturing standards to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

Chocolate is made through a complex process that involves several stages, including the harvesting of cocoa beans, fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding, and conching, before it is finally molded into bars or other forms. Throughout this process, there are numerous quality control checks to prevent contamination.

Moreover, reputable chocolate manufacturers operate in facilities that are regularly inspected and certified to meet high standards of cleanliness and food safety. These standards are regulated by organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the European Union.

While it's theoretically possible for contamination to occur in any food product, the chances of finding rat feces in commercially produced chocolate are very low due to these stringent controls. However, it's always a good idea to purchase chocolate from reputable brands and to store it properly to minimize any risk of contamination.

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