Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals: A new study from George Washington University in the United States reveals that many cocoa-based products in the country contain worrying levels of toxic heavy metals.
According to the New York Post, researchers analyzed 72 types of cocoa-based foods, including dark chocolate—often noted for its heart health benefits—over an eight-year period. They found that approximately 43% of these products contained lead levels exceeding the permissible limit, and the amount of cadmium in 35% of the products also surpassed recommended levels.
Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals, The researchers noted that, surprisingly, the levels of lead and cadmium in products labeled as organic were higher than in non-organic products. The source of this contamination may be from the soil or could have occurred during the production process.
While consuming a single serving of these cocoa products may not pose significant health risks, consuming multiple servings would not be without danger.
Lee Frame, the lead researcher of the study, said, “We all love chocolate, but it’s important to exercise caution in its consumption, just as we should with other foods containing heavy metals like canned tuna and unwashed brown rice.” He added that while it’s impossible to completely avoid heavy metals in foods, we should still be mindful of what and how much we eat.
Many Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals
Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals, According to him, high levels of lead can also be found in shellfish, organ meats, and foods or herbal supplements grown in contaminated soils or in products imported from countries with weaker regulations like China, Nigeria, India, and Egypt.
Experts say that exposure to lead can lead to high blood pressure and issues with the brain, kidneys, and reproductive health. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach pain, constipation, muscle or joint pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, irritability, and loss of sexual desire.
Cadmium poisoning can cause fever, chills, and muscle pain, and long-term exposure can lead to kidney, bone, and lung diseases. The cadmium levels in some seaweeds, particularly the edible hijiki seaweed used in seaweed salads, are also concerning.
Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals, Frame’s report, published Wednesday in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, follows the analysis of a 2022 Consumer Reports study that found cadmium and lead in 28 types of dark chocolate. In 23 of these chocolates, consuming just one ounce (28 grams) per day exceeded the permissible limit for at least one of these heavy metals.
However, a study from Tulane University in June on 155 types of dark and milk chocolates found that cadmium levels exceeded the permissible limit in only one brand, and the cadmium levels in just four types of chocolate were high enough to pose a risk to children.
Chocolates Contain Toxic Metals, According to Tewodros Godebo, the lead author of this study, consuming dark chocolate poses no risk to adults, and while these four chocolates could be dangerous for children, it’s unlikely that a three-year-old would regularly consume more than two chocolate bars per week. Our findings suggest that dark and milk chocolates are generally not hazardous.
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