But the Consumer Reports
tests proved it is also possible for dark chocolate bars to maintain low levels of heavy metals, as five of the 28 bars had levels of lead and cadmium agreeable with California's limitations.The settlement between confectioners association and As You Sow, an organization that promotes corporate social responsibility, required both parties to undertake a multiyear study to understand the root causes of heavy metals in chocolate and strategies to reduce these levels.
"The industry should communicate to farmers the value of implementing Better Agricultural Practices related to reducing wet cocoa bean contact with soil during fermentation and drying," wrote Timothy Ahn, co-author of the report whofood safety at Lloyd's Register."Drying wet beans in direct contact with the ground, road surfaces, and concrete patios should be discontinued as a farmer controllable Pb reduction activity.
Reducing wet cocoa bean contact with soil and dust can lower lead in chocolate by 10% to more than 25%, according to co-author and toxicologist Michael DiBartolomeis. Other ways to reduce heavy metal levels include blending high cadmium content cocoa beans with those with lower levels, identifying areas of contamination, and conducting more robust testing, according to the report from As You Sow.
This coming from the state that requires warning labels which helpfully inform us that everything causes cancer
I'm noticing these are all brands heavily sold in the US.
Slow news day?
I’m thinking “what you should know”, is there should be NO allowable dose levels for lead or cadmium in my dark chocolate bars!
Good thing I live in Washington!
Oh no! I love trying out all the Trader Joe’s chocolate 🍫 - will avoid that - they should recall that
By setting absurdly low thresholds and warning us about every imagined risk, California health authorities ensure that the public will come to disregard all of their warnings. They are the agency that cried wolf.
“An oz of Lindt's Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa or Dove's Promises Deeper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao exceeds acceptable cadmium levels. An oz of Godiva's Signature Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao or Hershey's Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate exceeds the acceptable lead levels.”
Bummer
Less content about this please! *takes bite of his dark chocolate covered pretzels*
Seems like a tall order to prevent it. Please do a follow-up article on why these heavy metals are in the soil and what other things we consume they're being absorbed into. The bacon will get me long before the chocolate, so I'm not changing my wicked ways in the meantime.
Bummer
This are sobering facts for me to digest but I will continue to be loyal to purchasing it at this point in time.
Those are just flavor blasters.
Still better than Flint.
Oh who gives a shit. Everything it poison according to California. Fall into the sea, you nanny state of a state.
Looks like fake news. A serving of chocolate contains 0.5 mcg of lead, while a typical glass of wine or beer contains 20 times that.
That's it. I'm going to do it.
Yeesh! Are those chemicals toxic for dogs? We both enjoy a sweet (50/50) with my espresso at dinner. Maybe I’ll have to find a new brand for my pup.
… ‘maximum allowable dose for lead /or/ cadmium’ is not the stoopidist ever written … thing … advisory … the term ‘allowable’ is down-right … what’s the word? … sigh is not big enough …
… ‘or’ … hmmm …
Dear God prayers for robertAbooey 🙏🏼
There is no safe level of lead. This article basically says it’s no big deal. It’s a big deal.
I’m going to die
Lmao they really want us to die miserable here
Here is the actual breakdown from Consumer Reports, not featured in the linked article.
but cockroach parts are acceptable...clowns
So you're saying more testing was done to dark chocolate bars than Covid vaccines?
It is easier to find people who died taking the vaccine than 'Death from dark chocolate, '
So...death by chocolate
Have you checked for radioactive elements as well?
How is it that any cadmium and lead are allowed in our food? There should be ZERO. Jesus!
Yeah, let’s all troll California because the state limits toxic metal intake… A more serious question: is Cd and Pb absorbed from cocoa? Flavanols may bind heavy metals in the GI tract and inhibit their uptake. Like Ca in milk, it does not = bioavailability.
It’s California, lead is the least of their problems!
way too general ... not everyone is a toxicologist ... missing was how much is too much
Only in California
I’ll have a chocolate bar. Unleaded please.
That is why I only eat European dark chocolate. Their standards are so much better than ours.
Well... which brand chocolate bars won't lead poison me?
white chocolate is better in merica
milk chocolate lovers stay winning
Time for a rebranding- glow in the dark cadmium eggs coming soon to a shelf near you.
Can’t make Cadbury without Cadmium
And suddenly all the milk chocolate lovers who were made fun of by dark chocolate snobs are vindicated
What are the brands without higher lead levels? Why is the soil in countries of origin contaminated and what does that mean for producer farmers and their families? Can you dig deeper, NPR?
This has been such disappointing news. Some of the bars I love are on the list.
STOP