2023-10-25 21:20:32
With Halloween fast approaching, the American organization Customer Reports has shared some scary news regarding the composition of popular chocolate products found in children’s candy bags: lead and heavy metals.
• Read also: Give your kids candy, suggests a nutritionist
• Read also: How much to spend on candy this Halloween?
• Read also: Bad nut harvest: a shortage of Ferrero Rocher for the holiday season?
The consumer advocacy firm found “worrying” levels of lead and cadmium in a third of the products tested, from brownie mixes to cocoa powder.
Moreover, their report was associated with Hershey’s Co., the largest supplier of chocolate in the United States, calling on them to intensify their efforts to reduce the level of metals.
Blair Gable, Ottawa Sun
“Our testing has revealed that other brands have successfully produced chocolate that contains fewer heavy metals and is safer for consumers,” said director Brian Ronholm.
“As a grassroots front brand, it is time for Hershey’s to make a strong and timely commitment to eliminating dangerous levels of heavy metals in its products.”
Photo Tango Photography
Chocolate under the magnifying glass
Following the discovery last year of potentially dangerous amounts of heavy metals in some brands of dark chocolate, scientists have carried out new tests on other types of chocolate and food products made with cocoa.
Products under scrutiny included chocolate bars, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and hot chocolate mixes, brownies and cakes.
Photo adobe stock
Detectable amounts of lead and cadmium were found in all 48 products tested, and 16 of them had “severe” levels of one of the two heavy metals.
According to their experts, long-term exposure, even to small amounts of heavy metals, can lead to health problems in children’s brain development.
Carlos Amat, Calgary Sun
Customer Reports points out that the heavy metals problem is an industry-wide problem and applies to all brands, not just Hershey’s.
To the article, the National Confectioners Association responded that “chocolate and cocoa are safe for consumption” and that “food safety and quality remain our highest priorities.”
1698276282
#Lead #heavy #metals #Halloween #chocolate
