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Recent studies have found lead in dark chocolate products. Even those labeled organic! Turns out, this occurrence is more common than most people realize.
Here’s what you need to know about lead in dark chocolate and what you can do about it.
When it comes to treats, many people lean on dark chocolate to satisfy two needs. That mood boosting tasty treat and the reduced guilt of the inherent health benefits that come along with it.
It is true. This decadent goodie is rich in antioxidants which may improve heart health and other inflammatory ailments. With a lower sugar content than other chocolate varieties or candies, it is considered a healthier option.
While this dark confection is high is goodness, it is also high is something not so good.
In a recent Consumer Reports study that sampled 28 leading dark chocolate bars. They found lead and cadmium in all of them.
All. Of. Them.
This is not a single manufacturer or grower problem. This isn’t an accidental contamination event. It is a signal of a much greater contributing factor.
What is this greater contributing factor?
To start, dark chocolate has a higher cacao ratio. Often at least 65% cacao by weight makes a chocolate “dark.”
Research suggests that while metals like cadmium in the soil accumulate in the cacao beans as the plant grows, lead contamination appears to occur after the beans are harvested.
Researchers identified lead in the outer shell of the cocoa bean. The non-edible part of the pod. Not the actual bean.
When measured soon after harvest, only trace amounts of leads were measured in the beans. However, the beans must first endure a drying process where they are left to dry in the sun for days. It is during this time, when lead-filled dust and dirt accumulates on the beans, that researchers believe may be a contributing factor.
Fortunately, there are a few things that can be done to reduce the amount of lead in chocolate for consumers. Some of it is an easier fix. However, some of the suggested mitigations can be time consuming and costly, potentially disrupting the industry.
Since the source of lead contamination seems to come from soil contaminating beans during the drying process, this is a logical place to start.
Instead of placing these beans on the ground to dry in the sun, Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow suggests minimizing soil contact. Using tables or clean tarps to place beans on to dry. Drying away from roads or with protective covers so that contaminated dirt or dust will not land on them. And lastly, identifying manufacturing processes that will remove metal contaminants from beans at factories.
For cadmium contamination, where the metal is pulled into the bean through the plant, a more radical approach may be needed. Careful breeding or genetically engineering plants that will take up less heavy metal is a good option, says Michael J. DiBartolomeis, PhD, toxicologist and former official at the California Department of Public Health. Additionally, replacing older trees with higher cadmium levels with youngers ones with lower levels could be performed in the interim.
Sadly, the overall solution to reducing heavy metals like cadmium and lead in dark chocolate are far from the near future. Does that mean that you have to swear off dark chocolate for good?
Thankfully, no.
There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of heavy metal poisoning.
The metal content is found in the cacao solids. Choosing a dark chocolate with less “chocolate” reduces the potential overall amount of heavy metals in the product.
Select a 65% or 70% cacao when possible.
This is not a fool-proof solution, as lead content does not follow as strict of a corollary path as does cadmium. But it is a starting point.
Limiting your intake and avoiding over indulging in dark chocolate is another way to minimize the risk of heavy metal poisoning. Keep your serving size small and do not consume dark chocolate on a regular basis. A weekly or monthly treat reduces your exposure more so than a daily one.
You can also make a more informed dark chocolate choice by selecting brands that have been tested recently with better performing ratios. Consumer Reports recently did a study that identified the worst offenders for cadmium and lead as well as some of the better options.
Five mainstream options were top of the high heavy metal list.
Consumer Reports, a consumer advocacy group, recently tested 28 different chocolate bars commonly available in retail stores. Each entry was given a percent ratio compared to the most commonly used safety measure, California’s Maximum Allowable Dose Limit (MADL).
For lead, this means chocolate must be 0.5 micrograms or less. For cadmium, it is 4.1 micrograms.
Topping the list of chocolate high is lead was Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate. This product came in at 265% of the allowable limit for lead and 30% of the allowable limit for cadmium.
Chocolove Extreme Dark Chocolate 88% Cacoa was a significant 240% for lead and 83% for cadmium.
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao was 192% for lead and 36% for cadmium.
Pascha Organic Very Dark Chocolate topped the list for highest amount of cadmium with 253% cadmium and 68% lead.
Alter Eco Organic Dark Chocolate Classic Blackout 85% Cacao came in at 204% cadmium and 49% lead.
Beyond Good Organic Pure Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao tested at 138% cadmium and 42% lead.
Consumer Reports identified five varieties, all of which are well known brands, that were the worst offenders. These chocolate bars were high in both lead and cadmium.
Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate 85% Cacao tested at 127% MADL for lead and 229% for cadmium.
Theo Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa tested at 140% MADL for lead and 189% for cadmium.
Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao tested at 143% MADL for lead and 181% for cadmium.
Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa tested at 120% MADL for lead and 142% for cadmium.
Based on the results of Consumer Reports laboratory analysis, the organization identified the five safest choices of the chocolate bars they tested. These chocolate bars were less than 100% of the MADL, though this analysis was based on a one ounce serving, so moderation is still highly recommended.
Mast brand Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao had a lead content that was 14% of the MADL for lead and 40% for cadmium.
Taza Chocolate Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cocao tested at 33% of MADL for lead and 74% for cadmium.
Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao tested at 36% MADL for lead and 39% for cadmium.
Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao tested at 61% MADL for lead and 96% for cadmium.
Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao tested at 63% MADL for lead and 73% for cadmium.
Dark chocolate may not be a dessert at the end of every meal. But if consumed in moderation along with other healthy choices throughout the day, can still be a part of a healthy lifestyle.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Want Your Dark Chocolate Unleaded? Studies Show Lead in Dark Chocolate is All Too Common.,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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