According to a report by the Daily Mail newspaper, multiple tests conducted by consumer watchdogs in the United States of America revealed the presence of high levels of cadmium and lead in chocolate products, which have been linked to kidney and bone disease, brain damage, miscarriage, and tumor growth.
Brian Johnson, a biological expert, analyzed 10 popular dark chocolate bars to find the worst offenders.
The result is that all 10 chocolate bars contained minerals, although Johnson did not specify which minerals he tested. Two Alter Eco products received the worst scores because they had three times the levels of minerals found in some competing brands.
In addition to mineral levels, Johnson also conducted tests on flavanols, which are plant compounds that can improve heart and brain health, help fight cell damage and infection, and protect the body from toxins and inflammation.
Based on the amount of flavanols and heavy metals each chocolate bar contains, the biological expert assigned a score to each product. The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating worse health.
Johnson tested 10 popular dark chocolate bars, including Lindt Excellence, Ritter Sport, Beyond Good, Alter Eco, Hu, and Tony’s Chocolonely, and their cocoa content ranged from 70% to 100% cocoa, with some claiming they came from sustainable sources. Good for the environment and free from manufactured additives.
Of the 10 products, Alter Eco’s Classic Dark Chocolate with 85% cocoa scored the lowest, with a score of 13.
Another Alter Eco product received a similar score: 100 percent whole cocoa dark chocolate, with 210.5 mg of flavanols and 14.7 micrograms of heavy metals, giving it a score of 14.
The product that received the highest score was Vogue’s Exotic Black Salted Caramel Chocolate, which contains 72 percent black cocoa, 159 mg of flavanols and only 2.0 micrograms of heavy metals, giving it a score of 78.
According to the Daily Mail, there is no specific federal level in the United States for exposure to lead and cadmium, but research conducted in 2017 determined that 62 micrograms of cadmium is the highest level that a person weighing 154 pounds can tolerate daily when it comes to kidney health.
While the US Food and Drug Administration lists the cadmium tolerance level at 0.21 to 0.36 micrograms of cadmium per day for every about 2 pounds of body weight, or about 25 micrograms for a 154-pound person.
There is no safe level of exposure to lead, but the acceptable daily dose of lead in food according to the Food and Drug Administration is 2.2 micrograms for children and about 8.8 micrograms for adults.
The state of California imposes stricter recommendations on safety levels, no more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, and no more than 4.1 micrograms of cadmium.
Chocolate may be exposed to heavy metals through cocoa powder, used to give the bars a velvety flavour. Lead may mix with cocoa when cocoa beans are placed on the sides of roads to dry and then covered in car fumes.
It is possible that cadmium is present inside the cocoa beans when they are harvested, because the cocoa tree may have extracted it from the soil.
Last July, George Washington University published separate research that analyzed 72 commercial cocoa products over an eight-year period, testing them for heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic.
The researchers discovered that all of the products contained traces of toxic metals, and nearly half of them contained up to 20 percent more than the maximum permissible dose of lead.
More than a third of them exceeded permissible levels of cadmium, which is linked to cancer and kidney damage. The researchers did not reveal the types of chocolate tested.
In 2023, a study found that 16 out of 48 types of chocolate tested contained high levels of lead or cadmium. This included Hershey’s milk chocolate bars and hot cocoa mixes from Trader Joe’s, Starbucks and Ghirardelli.
Source: Daily Mail
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**Interview with Brian Johnson, Biological Expert**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Brian. Your recent analysis of dark chocolate bars has raised significant concerns regarding heavy metals like cadmium and lead. Can you explain what motivated you to conduct these tests?
**Brian Johnson:** Thank you for having me. My motivation stemmed from the growing popularity of dark chocolate, which many consumers view as a health food. However, there are potential health risks associated with heavy metal contamination that often go unnoticed. I wanted to provide clarity on the safety of these products and help consumers make informed choices.
**Editor:** Your tests revealed high levels of cadmium and lead in various chocolate bars, with some brands significantly exceeding safe limits. Can you summarize your findings for us?
**Brian Johnson:** Certainly. I analyzed ten popular dark chocolate brands, focusing on their levels of flavanols and heavy metals. All of them contained some level of both, but two Alter Eco products were particularly concerning, containing three times the minerals found in competing brands. On a scoring system from 0 to 100, where lower scores indicate poorer health outcomes, Alter Eco’s Classic Dark Chocolate scored the lowest at 13, while their 100% whole cocoa dark chocolate scored 14.
**Editor:** That’s alarming. Given these findings, how should consumers approach chocolate consumption, particularly dark chocolate?
**Brian Johnson:** It’s essential for consumers to be aware of the brands they choose. Look for those with lower heavy metal levels and higher flavanol content. For instance, Vogue’s Exotic Black Salted Caramel Chocolate scored the highest at 78, indicating a better balance in terms of health benefits and risks. Moderation is key, and it may be wise to rotate between brands or limit intake of those found to have higher levels of contaminants.
**Editor:** In light of your findings, what recommendations do you have for regulatory bodies like the FDA regarding chocolate safety?
**Brian Johnson:** I believe it’s crucial for the FDA to establish clear federal limits for cadmium and lead in chocolate products. The current lack of specific thresholds can leave consumers vulnerable to potential health risks. Implementing stricter regulations and promoting transparency in testing would contribute greatly to consumer safety.
**Editor:** Thank you, Brian, for shedding light on this critical issue. Your insights will undoubtedly help our readers navigate their chocolate choices more carefully.
**Brian Johnson:** Thank you for having me. I hope my findings encourage consumers to be more mindful about the foods they eat and advocate for better safety standards in our food supply.