Long thought of as healthier than other sweet pleasures, some types of dark chocolate contain potentially deadly levels of heavy metals, scientists said.
Researchers from Consumer Reports recently analyzed the levels of heavy metals in 28 well-known brands of dark chocolate bars. They discovered that all of them contained lead and cadmium.
Researchers found that healthy adult individuals who consumed 30 grams of 85-percent dark chocolate every day were happier than healthy adults who consumed chocolates ‘with less cocoa in it,’ or none at all.
Just one ounce of one of these 23 chocolate bars, made by companies like Godiva, Hershey's, Lindt, and Trader Joe's, would put an adult above the limit that public health officials deem dangerous.
An adult would exceed a limit for at least one of the metals that might be dangerous if they consumed just one ounce daily of 23 of the bars, according to CR. Both cadmium and lead levels were above those in five of the bars.
Study Finds Heavy Metals, Lead in Dark Chocolate
While dark chocolate has several advantages over milk chocolate, like having more fiber and less sugar, these advantages can potentially be dangerous.
Food Safety Network said the percentages of cacao, or cocoa, in dark chocolate are indicated on the box as a guide to which brands or subbrands are healthier. While greater stated health benefits are associated with higher percentages.
The research mentioned that eating 1 ounce of each of the 23 chocolate bars under investigation daily would expose an adult to at least one heavy metal that specialists consider potentially harmful.
Five of the tested chocolate bars, including those from the brands below, were found to have lead and cadmium levels over those limits.
- Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate - 70% Cacao
- Lily's Extremely Dark Chocolate - 85% Cocoa
- Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa
- Theo Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate - 85% Cocoa
- Trader Joe's The Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate - 85% Cacao
None of the chocolate companies have yet commented on the study's findings.
It is well known that heavy metals, particularly lead, may harm everyone's health. This is particularly true for youngsters, though, since they are more prone to developmental difficulties, brain damage, lower IQs, and other challenges. As a result of these reasons, lead has been banned from use in paint and plumbing for a long time.
Dark Chocolate Alternatives
Today said that the examination also produced a good finding, as scientists discovered five chocolate items that were thought to be safer substitutes, including:
- Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao
- Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao
- Mast Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa
- Taza Chocolate Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
- Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao
According to Consumer Reports' James Rogers, who oversees food safety testing and research, producers can produce dark chocolate with less heavy metals. He continued that there are some things they believe manufacturers can do, though it may not be simple.
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