Scientists Keep Finding Heavy Metals in Dark Chocolate

 New research published Wednesday found heavy metals in dark chocolate, the latest in a string of studies to raise concerns about toxins in cocoa products.

The researchers tested 72 dark chocolate bars, cocoa powders and nibs to see if they were contaminated with heavy metals in concentrations higher than those deemed safe by California’s Proposition 65, one of the nation’s strictest chemical regulations.

Among the products tested, 43 percent contained higher levels of lead than the law considers safe, and 35 percent had higher concentrations of cadmium. Both metals are considered toxic and have been associated with a range of health issues. The study did not name specific brands, but found that organic products were more likely to have higher concentrations. Products certified as “fair trade” did not have lower levels of heavy metals.

New York Times

 

Toxic Chocolate — As You Sow

My favourite chocolate is here :(

They responded:

Thanks for reaching out with your question about our cacao products. We completely understand your concerns about heavy metals—and share them. All of our cacao products are batch tested by third party, independent labs for heavy metals, microbials, and nutrition, and we reject anything that doesn't meet our quality and safety standards.
 
I can explain why the results in the As You Sow report seem especially concerning: instead of ppm or mcg/g, they display the results as mcg per serving. In the past, we had a higher than average serving size for our Cacao Powder (15g versus the more common 5-6g in the industry) in an effort to capture the 'common usage' amount. If you run the math out, you'll find that our cacao powder tested in this report is actually just under 0.5mcg/g, which is on the lower side of average for cacao. And our current average from the past six months is actually a touch lower at 0.4mcg/g.
 
Cadmium and lead are found in virtually all minimally processed cacao, as these metals occur naturally in soil all over the world. The same absorptive powers that make raw cacao such a good source of iron, magnesium, copper, and other beneficial minerals also means that it absorbs some amount of the less desirable metals as well. While we're never happy to see heavy metals in any food, we appreciate that cacao is at least also providing us with fiber, beneficial minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats.
 
I hope that helps! If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach back out.

Navitas Organics®