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November 1st, 2023
A new Consumer Reports study spells potentially bad news for chocolate lovers. Consumer Reports’ investigation found significant heavy metals contamination in a variety of chocolate products from major brands and retailers. The study examined 48 different chocolate products, from chocolate chips to chocolate bars, brownie mix and hot cocoa , and found lead and cadmium in every single one. Heavy metals were discovered in amounts that exceeded levels of concern in 16 of the chocolate products tested.
Lead is a neurotoxin and prolonged exposure can cause fragile bones and kidney disease. Lead exposure is of particular concern in children. Cadmium can cause cancer. The study found higher concentrations of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate. These heavy metals are believed to enter the cocoa plant through contaminated soil or dust during coca bean processing.
The study identified the following chocolate products with the highest levels of lead or cadmium per serving:
| · Perugina 85% Dark Chocolate
· Evolved Signature Dark 72% Cacao Chocolate Bar · Hu Dark Chocolate Gems · Good & Gather Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips · Droste Cacao Powder · Hershey’s Cocoa Naturally Unsweetened 100% Cacao |
· Great Value Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix
· Starbucks Hot Cocoa Classic · Ghirardelli Premium Brownie Mix Double Chocolate · Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix · Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix – Chocolate Muffin and Cake Mix
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Products with the lowest levels of lead and cadmium included:
| · Sam’s Choice Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa
· Lindt Classic Recipe Milk Chocolate Bar · Ghirardelli Premium Baking Bittersweet Chocolate Chips 60% Cacao · Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels · Navitas Organics Organic Cocoa Powder
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· Nestlé Toll House 100% Pure Cocoa
· Ghirardelli Premium Hot Cocoa Mix · Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa · Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix · Great Value Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake Mix |
Unfortunately, it looks like we may have one more reason to be mindful about our chocolate consumption this holiday season.
