Lead and cadmium have been detected in dark chocolate. — Photo: id-art/Getty Images, via ETX DailyUp
Heralded as a great mood booster, but also as a means of slowing cell ageing thanks to its concentration of antioxidants, dark chocolate may not be a food without suspicion after all, due to the presence of lead and cadmium.
In addition to its benefits for health, dark chocolate is often regarded as the most interesting type of cocoa product in terms of flavor, due to its signature characteristics, tannins and mouthfeel which vary according to origin.
Nevertheless, while it may be considered the summum of chocolate types in terms of flavor, we may start eyeing it suspiciously, especially since a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition on July 31 revealed that neurotoxic metals may be present in the substance – specifically, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead.
As the research was carried out in the USA, by academics at George Washington School of Medicine, it was the levels authorized by the authorities in that country that were taken into account when judging whether the quantities detected posed a problem.
In their research, 43% of the chocolates analysed exceeded the maximum lead level set by Proposition 65, a California law that ensures the compliance of consumer goods by listing some 800 chemical substances "known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity," according to OEHHA, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
In the case of cadmium, 35% of chocolates were found to be non-compliant. The only good news is that no arsenic was found in the 72 cocoa-based consumer products selected for this scientific analysis, carried out every two years over eight years.
And unfortunately, organic products weren't any better, in fact they fared worse, identified as containing higher doses of heavy metals. "More striking, the number of trade certifications (eg, Non-GMO, Fairtrade) did not significantly alter the levels of heavy metals found among products surveyed.
Thus, even those consumers opting to purchase 'higher' quality products retained no exposure protection," the researchers point out. And one reason is that lead and cadmium are naturally found in the soil.
So given these revelations, it's not surprising that fans of dark chocolate find themselves wondering about how safe it is to consume, specifically as ingestion of cadmium can lead to problems with kidney function. Children and pregnant women are the population most at risk, with the study authors indicating that "the maximum reasonable reduction of dietary exposure, especially for developing children and expectant mothers, is highly advisable."
For the average person, "the heavy metal contamination in the majority of products surveyed may not pose a risk... when consumed as a single serving; however, consuming more than one serving per day and/or in combination with other sources of heavy metals (eg. seafood) may cumulatively add up to exposure that exceed the Prop 65 maximum allowable dose levels." The researchers conclude that their findings indicate that "enhanced surveillance" and better "addressing significant gaps in quality control" in production may be warranted. — AFP Relaxnews
