You may be one of the many people who have switched from milk chocolate to dark chocolate because it’s lower in sugar and higher in antioxidants. But before you dig into that candy bar or head into the kitchen to whip up a homemade treat (like our salted caramel recipe ) there’s something you should know. Your dark chocolate may be hiding an even darker secret. It’s known to contain two heavy metals—cadmium and lead—that can cause adverse health effects. Pregnant women and children are at greater risk.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 CBC News: The National | 2023-02-14 03:02:10 |  29,044 Views |
Several brands of dark chocolate contain traces of lead cadmium: research
There have been several scientific studies that have found both heavy metals in various samples of dark chocolate that researchers tested and a 2023 Consumer Reports investigation found that levels in some brands exceeded California’s recommended maximum amounts for one or both of the elements. There are a few options with lower amounts the most well-known of which is Ghirardelli. Other brands including two organic options Mast and Taza Chocolate also make the list of safer choices. While celebrity chef Ina Garten swears by Lindt chocolate in her recipes Consumer Reports found that the brand’s dark chocolate had cadmium levels that were above California’s maximum allowed. But how do cadmium and lead get into dark chocolate in the first place?
Lead buildup in the body can cause a range of health problems from nervous system issues to kidney and liver damage according to a 2020 scientific paper in the Journal of Health Science and Engineering. In children it can lead to lower IQs and learning disabilities. Cadmium buildup in the body can cause several forms of cancer and both heavy metals can also compromise the immune system. Cadmium usually gets into chocolate through the soil in which the cacao tree whose beans are the main ingredient in chocolate grows. Lead can get into cacao when it’s harvested or processed.
The 2023 Consumer Reports study found that the two heavy metals were present in all 28 dark chocolate bars it tested with some products having levels of both lead and cadmium that exceeded the recommended dosage thresholds of 0.5 micrograms for lead and 4.1 for cadmium. Similarly a 2024 Frontiers in Nutrition study found that of the 72 dark chocolate products it tested 43% had higher levels of lead and 35% had higher levels of cadmium than those considered safe. Because there is no national standard for allowable levels of lead and cadmium in most foods both studies relied on California state guidelines. Neither study looked at milk chocolate which tends to have lower levels of heavy metals than dark chocolate which is higher in cocoa.
