Want To Unwrap That Chocolate Or Indulge In Sweet Chocolate Cravings? Beware, Many Chocolate Products Contain Worrying Levels Of Lead Or Other Heavy Metals: Consumer Report

So, you want to give your kids a treat, stop them from crying, reward them with chocolates, or simply indulge in your own sweet cravings; well, you may be putting a life at risk, literally!

Chocolate products, often seen as delightful treats and rewards, have recently come under the spotlight due to concerning levels of lead and cadmium, as reported by Consumer Reports. 

Consumer Reports conducted tests on a variety of chocolate products, ranging from cocoa powder to brownie mixes and all kinds of chocolate bars; the results were startling, revealing detectable amounts of lead and cadmium in all 48 products tested, with 16 of them containing concerning levels of these heavy metals. 

Why is this alarming? 

Long-term exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals can lead to health problems, particularly concerning brain development in young children.

The Consumer Reports investigation found concerning levels of lead and cadmium not only in chocolate bars but also in a range of other chocolate products, such as cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and mixes for hot cocoa, brownies, and chocolate cake. 

What’s alarming is that detectable amounts of lead and cadmium were present in all 48 products that were tested, with 16 of them containing levels that were considered concerning for one or both of these heavy metals.

The potential health consequences of long-term exposure to even small amounts of these heavy metals are significant. For instance, it can lead to issues with brain development in young children, nervous system problems in adults, hypertension, immune system suppression, kidney damage, and reproductive issues. 

Thus, these findings are not to be taken lightly and emphasize the urgent need for manufacturers to address heavy metal contamination in their products.

Among the tested chocolate products, some of the well-known brands with high levels of lead included Hershey‘s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate, Lily’s Extra Dark Chocolate, Lily’s Extreme Dark Chocolate, Tony’s, Godiva, Chocolove, Lindt, Endangered Species, Trader Joe’s, and Hu. 

It’s essential to note that no amount of lead or cadmium is considered safe to ingest, making it crucial for manufacturers to take swift action to reduce these heavy metal levels.

Consumer Reports utilized California’s standard maximum allowable dose of each metal as a benchmark for comparison, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has limits for these metals only in certain foods. 

The organization believes that California’s standards are the most protective available, and it’s important to hold chocolate manufacturers to these standards to ensure consumer safety.

Dark chocolate products, in particular, were found to contain higher levels of cacao, which is the primary ingredient in chocolate. For example, Perugina, owned by Nestlé, had the highest amounts of lead among dark chocolate bars, while Evolved had the highest level of cadmium. 

Additionally, cocoa powders, which also tend to have higher cacao content, showed elevated levels of lead, particularly in products from Hershey’s and Droste. 

At the same time, Hot chocolate mixes from brands like Nestlé, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart’s Great Value brand contained the highest levels of lead.

Consumer Reports also measured the amount of mercury and arsenic in these chocolate products, and while they were present, the levels did not pose high risks of exposure to these metals.

Consumer Reports pointed out that some of the most well-known brands, including Hershey’s, were among the culprits when it came to high levels of lead in their products. 

For instance, Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate contained a shocking 265% of the maximum allowable dose level of lead; other brands with elevated levels of lead included Tony’s, Godiva, Chocolove, Lindt, Endangered Species, Trader Joe’s, Hu, and more; calling for serious attention, as no amount of lead or cadmium is considered safe to ingest.

Now, you might be wondering how these heavy metals end up in chocolate. 

To understand how lead and cadmium enter chocolate, researchers have examined the cacao plant itself; Michael J. DiBartolomeis, a toxicologist and former official at the California Department of Public Health, and other experts conducted research between 2019 and 2022. 

Their work was part of a settlement to a lawsuit against chocolate manufacturers brought by As You Sow, an organization advocating for corporate accountability; As You Sow had previously found high levels of lead and cadmium in certain chocolates.

These heavy metals primarily exist in cocoa solids, which are essential components of chocolate; to create chocolate, cacao beans are processed to separate the nonfat cocoa solids from the cocoa butter. 

These cocoa solids contain heart-healthy antioxidants, and they are more abundant in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate, making contamination with heavy metals more common in dark chocolate products.

Different Paths for Lead and Cadmium Contamination

Lead and cadmium appear to infiltrate cacao beans through distinct pathways at various stages of the growing and production process; this divergence implies that different strategies are necessary to mitigate the presence of these heavy metals.

For cadmium, researchers discovered that it is typically present in cacao beans when they are harvested; this happens because cacao plants absorb cadmium from the soil, and as the trees mature, this metal accumulates in the beans, similar to how other crops can become contaminated by heavy metals.

Lead, on the other hand, seems to enter cacao beans after they are harvested. 

Researchers noted that lead levels were initially low when beans were first picked but increased as the beans were left to dry for days in the sun. 

However, during this drying process, lead-laden dust and dirt can adhere to the outer surface of the beans; this dust and dirt often contain lead and are commonly found near industrial sites or in areas where leaded gasoline has been used.

Strategies to Reduce Lead and Cadmium in Chocolate

To address the contamination of cacao with cadmium, growers may need to undertake a series of steps that could take several years; potential measures include:

• Surveying soil in cacao-growing regions to identify areas with lower cadmium levels.
• Favoring cacao plants from those regions.
• Blending beans from different regions as needed.
• Replacing older trees with younger ones (since cadmium levels tend to rise with tree age).
• Treating or replacing contaminated soil.
• Potentially developing cacao plants through breeding or genetic engineering that are less likely to absorb cadmium.

Solutions might be quicker to implement in the case of lead contamination; changing harvesting and manufacturing processes can significantly reduce lead levels. 

Measures such as minimizing soil contact with drying beans, drying beans on tables or tarps away from roads, and using protective covers to prevent contaminated dust from adhering to the beans can be effective, while some lead can also be removed during the cleaning process after beans reach a factory.

The National Confectioners Association, which funded the research into heavy metals in chocolate as part of the As You Sow settlement, believes that implementing new handling practices can lead to reductions in lead levels within the first year. 

While lowering cadmium levels may take longer, but it is still achievable, according to the National Confectioners Association and Michael J. DiBartolomeis.

While the findings are concerning, there is hope for a safer chocolate future. 

To reduce cadmium levels, growers and chocolate makers can undertake several measures as mentioned above and The National Confectioners Association, which funded research into heavy metals in chocolate, believes that lead reductions can be achieved within a year of implementing these new handling practices.

The Last Bit,

So, what’s the bottom line?

The presence of lead and cadmium in chocolate products is a matter of significant concern, and consumers need to be aware of the potential health risks associated with these heavy metals. 

It’s essential for chocolate manufacturers, especially industry leaders like Hershey’s, to take immediate steps to reduce heavy metal levels and ensure the safety of their products. 

At the same time, as consumers, being informed about the contents of chocolate products is vital to making responsible choices for our health and well-being.

We can also make informed choices by checking product labels and supporting companies that take the necessary steps to ensure our chocolate indulgence remains safe. 

In the end, we all deserve a sweet treat that we can enjoy without any bitter aftertaste.