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Study finds concerning levels of lead and heavy metals in American chocolate products
A piece of research from George Washington University has found a concerning amount of toxic heavy metals in a variety of American cocoa products.
Though we don’t think of the behind-the-scenes actions of food production, most products we consume go through countless quality and safety checks. Unfortunately, some products slip through the cracks. For that reason, the FDA is often forced to recall products like the recent spinach recall, or the countless beverages that have already been recalled in 2024.
Traces of the metal exceeded guidelines
No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to completely stay away from heavy metals. They can be present in most foods, from tuna to unwashed brown rice.
To better understand the presence of harmful toxins in cocoa products, George Washington University researchers analyzed 72 consumer cocoa products every other year over an eight-year period. Specifically, they were looking for the presence of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and heavy metals.
The researchers soon found that 43% of the products tested exceeded the maximum allowable dose level for lead.
That percentage dropped to 35% for the presence of cadmium, which can cause flu-like symptoms, kidney disease, and bone disease, and has been linked to cancer.
Thankfully, none of the products tested exceeded the maximum dose for arsenic, though products labeled as organic showed higher levels of both lead and cadmium.
What does this mean? Should you not eat chocolate?
As we mentioned above, completely staying away from potentially harmful chemicals is near enough impossible, especially in the modern age.
We all love chocolate but its important to indulge with moderation as with other foods that contain heavy metals including large fish like tuna and unwashed brown rice, said Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine and associate professor of clinical research and leadership at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. While it’s not practical to avoid heavy metals in your food entirely, you must be cautious of what you are eating and how much.
Instead, the scientists urged people to consider how much chocolate they are eating, and whether or not they are consuming it alongside other heavy metal-rich products.
