Oct. 26, 2023 – Consumer Reports is calling on the makers of dark chocolate products to limit levels of heavy metals, after what the watchdog group called “concerning” test results.
Researchers tested 48 chocolate products and found potentially harmful levels of lead or cadmium in 16 of them. All of the 48 products tested had lead or cadmium present.
The products tested came from major retailers like Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Target, and included cocoa powder, chocolate chips, chocolate bars, and mixes for brownies or cake. None of the tested milk chocolate products had concerning metal levels, but worrying levels were found in some dark chocolate products.
Varying amounts of cadmium and lead indicates that chocolate makers can make changes to limit the levels in their products, the researchers stated.
“In general, products with higher cocoa content tend to have higher levels of metals, but not always,” Consumer Reports chemist and researcher Eric Boring, PhD, said in a statement. “There’s enough variation in the lead levels within each category of foods that it’s clear factors other than cocoa content affect lead levels, and that means manufacturers have the ability to reduce the heavy metals in their products to the lowest levels possible.”
Cadmium is likely introduced to the products via soil where cocoa is grown, and lead is likely introduced after harvest, such as from dust and soil that come in contact with the beans as they are dried outdoors, the report stated. The testing also looked for mercury and arsenic, but no risk was detected.
The Consumer Reports researchers judged whether metal levels were concerning or not based on California’s standard levels, since there are no federal limits of lead or cadmium in most foods, the authors wrote. The authors reached out to the FDA regarding the results.
“While the presence of cadmium and lead in chocolate has been the subject of considerable media attention, experts from around the world have found that chocolate is a minor source of exposure to these contaminants internationally,” the FDA said in a statement, adding that “ all food manufacturers and processors are responsible for ensuring the safety of their food."
Concerning levels of metals were found in a dark chocolate bar and hot chocolate mix from Walmart, cocoa powder from Hershey's and Droste, semi-sweet chocolate chips from Target, and hot chocolate mixes from Trader Joe's, Nestle, and Starbucks, according a summary from the news agency Reuters.
Consumer Reports specifically called on chocolate maker Hershey to reduce metals in its products. Earlier this year, a Hershey executive said the company was looking to lower lead and cadmium content or get rid of the metals completely, the report noted.
In a test of 28 dark chocolate bars that Consumer Reports analyzed last year, the metals cadmium and lead were found in all of them, according to a report published in December. Brands included Dove, Ghirardelli, Alter Eco, and Mast.
Of the 28 bars, metal levels were so high that eating just one ounce of the chocolate could be harmful.
“Consistent, long-term exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals can lead to a variety of health problems,” the December report stated. “The danger is greatest for pregnant people and young children because the metals can cause developmental problems, affect brain development, and lead to lower IQ.”
Repeated exposure to lead can affect the nervous system and is linked to to high blood pressure, poor immune response, kidney damage, and reproductive problems. The authors noted that the market research firm Mintel says 15% of people eat chocolate every day. Dark chocolate is considered a healthy treat due to being high in antioxidants and low in sugar.
Five bars in the December study had safer levels of metals, which meant that makers of the bars that were high in metals could change their processes to lower those amounts. The five bars that Consumer Reports called “safer choices” were:
- Mast Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa
- Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao
- Taza Chocolate Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
- Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao
- Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao
This latest round of testing also showed that two more bars could be considered “safer options”:
- Sam's Choice (Walmart) Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa
- Divine 70% Deliciously Smooth Dark Chocolate
