Chocolate bunnies and eggs are about as synonymous with Easter as going to church.
But two recent studies indicate that you might want to rethink your favorite Easter treat this Sunday, especially if it’s made of dark chocolate.
Of 28 dark chocolate bars tested, all contained both metals, one study by Consumer Reports found in December. Of those, 18 were considered high in either lead or cadmium while five were high in both.
No amount of either lead or cadmium is considered safe to ingest.
While chocolate lovers may be fretting over the recent findings, it’s not all bad news.
Here’s everything you need to know about what the research has found, what’s being done about heavy metals in chocolate and how you can make safer choices in the meantime:
Heavy metals in dark chocolate
For its study, Consumer Reports tested big-name brands like Trader Joe’s, Lindt, and Dove, as well as smaller ones like Alter Eco and Mast.
The organization used California’s maximum allowable dose levels of lead and cadmium because they’re believed to be the most protective.
The safest choices of the 28 bars tested were by brands including:
- Mast
- Taza Chocolate
- Ghirardelli
- Valrhona
All contained the smallest amounts of lead and cadmium among the chocolates tested.
The chocolates that were high in both lead and cadmium include bars from:
- Trader Joe’s
- Theo
- Lily’s
- Green & Blacks
The levels of the metals in those bars were often well over 100% of California’s maximum allowable doses. Another 18 were high in either lead or cadmium.
Check out the complete study to see how much lead or cadmium your favorite dark chocolate might contain.
Another study last August found the same was true for most dark chocolate and three milk chocolates tested.
Why are lead and cadmium harmful?
Experts have identified cadmium as a known carcinogen and lead as a probable one.
Consistent exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals over a long time period can lead to hypertension, immune system suppression, kidney damage and reproductive issues, according to Tunde Akinleye, the food safety researcher at Consumer Reports who led the chocolate-testing project.
The danger is greater for young children and pregnant people because heavy metals can affect brain development and lead to lower IQs, Akinleye said.
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Why is there lead and cadmium in chocolate?
The chocolate industry and its watchdogs have been looking for solutions since a corporate accountability group based in California called As You Sow began finding lead and cadmium in dark chocolate in 2014.
After years of litigation, As you Sow and the industry agreed to conduct a study to understand how metals are getting into chocolate and how to fix it.
That study found that lead gets into chocolate at various stages of cacao production, like when beans are removed from their pods. Cadmium is in the soil itself and levels can vary heavily.
Solutions to lead contamination include keeping sticky cacao beans off the ground to protect them from dust laden with lead. Manufacturers can address the cadmium problem by avoiding land with high levels of the metal, for instance.
As You Sow is working with the industry to implement changes.
Meanwhile, at least two lawsuits have been filed over the issue since Consumer Reports’ findings came out. Both Trader Joe’s and The Hershey Company, who were sued over lead and cadmium in their products, have declined to comment.
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What can you do?
Until the chocolate industry fixes the problem, the experts at Consumer Reports say that people can do a few things to mitigate their risks. They include:
- Don’t give dark chocolate to children.
- Pregnant women should eliminate dark chocolate consumption or greatly reduce it.
- Try to limit consumption to dark chocolate to a couple times a week, and choose chocolates with lower levels of cacao.
- Sweet tooth killing you? Most milk chocolate has lower levels of cacao and therefore much lower levels of lead and cadmium. But do check with As You Sow to see if they’ve tested your favorite.