Among its many health benefits, dark chocolate may be beneficial for reducing inflammation and promoting heart health by providing powerful antioxidants. The report warns that dark chocolate may also contain two heavy metals harmful to health.
The report says it found lead and cadmium in 28 dark chocolate bars from various brands. James Rogers, director of Consumer Reports’ food safety research and testing, says most products have high levels of heavy metals.
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A trade group in the chocolate industry counters that chocolate and cocoa are safe. Cadmium occurs naturally in soil. A low level of exposure over time can cause kidney disease, fragile bones, and cancer. Lead, another naturally occurring element, can harm a child’s health and cause brain damage. The risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and high blood pressure increases with age. Rogers was surprised to find detectable levels of both heavy metals in every brand tested.
Analyses Of The Tests
Consumer Reports experts considered at least one of the heavy metals potentially harmful for adults eating 1 ounce a day from 23 of the bars tested. TODAY.com spoke with those manufacturers. According to Mondelz Global, the parent company of Green & Black’s, inquiries should be directed to the National Confectioners Association.
According to Hershey Company, which manufactures Lily’s, food safety is a top priority. Todd Scott, spokesperson for the company, said, “We use a robust food safety plan when sourcing our ingredients and manufacturing our products.”
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The Reaction Of The Industry
Lead, and cadmium levels in chocolate are monitored and reported to the FDA to enforce regulations and inform industry guidance. Consumer Reports evaluated the chocolate bars using the California level for lead and cadmium because FDA standards do not exist. FDA has not reviewed testing data, but environmental contaminants are present in food environments where it is grown, raised, or processed. In an email statement, the FDA says, “The U.S. food supply is among the safest in the world.