By Finna Temple, District Lead Coordinator
Consumer Reports (CR), a nonprofit organization that conducts independent product testing and research, recently tested a wide range of different chocolate products to see which ones contain higher levels of toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Because there are currently no federal limits for the amount of lead and cadmium most foods can contain, CR measured each product against California’s maximum allowable dose levels (MADL) for lead and cadmium in food, which it described as “the most protective available.”
The state’s MADL for lead is 0.5 micrograms per day, while its MADL for cadmium is 4.1 micrograms per day. So any chocolate products that exceed California’s limits contain comparatively higher levels of heavy metals and therefore could pose a greater risk to consumers.
Hot chocolate mixes were among the products included in the study—and the testing results for several popular brands may shock you. Of the six mixes that CR tested, four contained levels of lead that exceeded California’s limit: Nestlé, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and Great Value (Walmart’s house brand).
The CR found that one serving of Nestlé’s Rich Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix contained 108% of the amount of lead permitted under California’s limit, while Trader Joe’s Organic Hot Cocoa Mix contained 112%. Starbucks’ Classic Hot Cocoa contained 159%, while Great Value’s Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix was the highest of all with 345%.
All of the mixes also contained some cadmium, but none exceeded California’s limit for the heavy metal.
Pregnant people and young children are at the greatest risk since the metals can cause developmental problems and affect brain development.
Adults who are frequently exposed may also suffer from hypertension, immune system suppression, kidney damage, and reproductive issues.
Click here for more information about the adverse health effects of lead exposure.
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