🚨 DARK CHOCOLATE MAY CONTAIN LEAD AND CADMIUM Dark chocolate is often considered a healthier sweet because it contains cocoa compounds and antioxidants that may have benefits for heart health. However, testing has found that some dark chocolate products also contain measurable amounts of heavy metals, including lead and cadmium. Consumer Reports tested 28 popular dark chocolate products and found lead, cadmium, or both in 23 of them. In some cases, eating about one ounce per day could result in exposure above California’s strict reference levels for these metals. Similar findings came from a 2024 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition. Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa and dark chocolate products purchased in the United States between 2014 and 2022. They found that 43% exceeded the reference level used for lead and 35% exceeded the reference level used for cadmium. None exceeded the arsenic level used in the study. The amount of contamination varied considerably between products. Some chocolates had relatively low levels, showing that it is possible to produce cocoa products with much lower concentrations of these metals. Lead and cadmium are important because the body can be affected by long-term exposure. Lead is particularly concerning for children because exposure has been associated with problems involving brain development, learning and IQ. In adults, long-term exposure has been linked with cardiovascular and kidney problems. Cadmium can also accumulate in the body and is especially associated with kidney and bone damage after prolonged exposure. The metals can enter cocoa through different routes. Cadmium can be taken up by cocoa plants from contaminated soil. Lead contamination can also occur after harvesting through drying, transportation, processing, dust, or contact with contaminated surfaces. This does not mean that eating a piece of dark chocolate will poison you. The concern is mainly about repeated exposure over time, particularly among children and during pregnancy. It also does not mean that all dark chocolate should be avoided. The testing showed significant differences between products, with some brands containing much lower levels of lead and cadmium than others. For people who regularly eat dark chocolate, especially children and pregnant individuals, choosing products with lower heavy-metal levels and avoiding excessive daily consumption can help reduce exposure. Sources: Consumer Reports — Lead and Cadmium in Dark Chocolate: Consumer Reports’ Testing Reveals Heavy Metals in Popular Brands Frontiers in Nutrition (2024) — A multi-year heavy metal analysis of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products in the USA Lanphear et al., Environmental Health Perspectives (2005) — Low-level lead exposure and children’s IQ Lanphear et al., The Lancet Public Health (2018) — Low-level lead exposure and cardiovascular mortality