Food Safety: Dark chocolate contains 2 heavy metals –Study

*Experts found cadmium and lead, two heavy metals, say consuming just small amounts of those metals on a regular basis could lead to health problems in both children and adults

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Experts have said that dark chocolate may not be as healthy as its advocates claim.

Memo to Santa – if you plan to stuff stockings with dark chocolate this year you might be advised to choose another candy, report said.

It was found that in spite of previous studies, dark chocolate might not be so healthy.

Researchers at Consumer Reports (CR) report finding cadmium and lead, two heavy metals, in the dark chocolate bars they tested.

Consuming just small amounts of those metals on a regular basis could lead to health problems in both children and adults.

So, how much cadmium and lead are we talking about?

The researchers concluded that eating just an ounce of dark chocolate daily would put an adult over the healthy limit.

According to researchers, if you eat dark chocolate, the heavy metals are almost impossible to avoid.

The research team tested 28 brands of dark chocolate bars. They found cadmium and lead in all 28.

Mr. Tunde Akinleye, CR Food Safety researcher who led the project, indicated that over-exposure to heavy metals could have negative health effects for people of all ages.

Akinleye noted that it could lead to high blood pressure, immune system suppression, and kidney damage, as well as other health conditions.

But who eats dark chocolate every day? You might be surprised.

Report also cited data from Mintel suggesting that 15 percent of people who snack on dark chocolate do it every day.

Five brands with the least amount

But not to be a complete holiday buzzkill, the CR researchers did find five brands of dark chocolate with low levels of the metals.

They are:

Mast Organic Dark Chocolate

Taza Organic Dark Chocolate

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight

Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate

For years, studies have heralded the positive health effects of dark chocolate, report noted

The candy is rich in antioxidants and has less sugar than other candies, said the researchers.

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