Toxic heavy metals found in nearly 30 dark chocolate bars

If you've got a sweet tooth then you may want to start choosing your chocolate more carefully, because a new study has found nearly 30 dark chocolate bars contain heavy metals linked to health problems.

Obviously, people eat chocolate at all times of the year, but our consumption really ramps up in the festive season. There are mugs of hot chocolate, cookies and boxes of treats everywhere you look – and Christmas is always the best excuse to tuck in.

Thanks to claims about antioxidants and a lower sugar content, dark chocolate is often depicted as the 'healthier' of the chocolate options – but that may not necessarily be true.

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In a new study conducted by scientists from Consumer Reports, 28 dark chocolate bars were tested to investigate the presence of heavy metals.

Research has previously shown that some dark chocolate bars contain cadmium and lead, two heavy metals that have been linked to a range of health problems in children and adults.

The chocolate industry is working to lower the levels, but the new study sought to show how much of a risk the treats really carry.

The organisation tested dark chocolate bars from a range of brands including Hershey’s, Godiva, Green & Black's, Ghirardelli, Lindt, Dove, Godiva and Trader Joe’s. Of the 28 bars tested, cadmium and lead were detected in every single one of them.

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The study revealed that 23 of the bars contained enough of the substances that eating just one ounce (28.3g) a day would put an adult over the level that public health authorities and Consumer Report experts believe could be harmful for at least one of the heavy metals.

Five of the bars were above the potentially harmful level for both cadmium and lead.

Tunde Akinleye, the Consumer Reports food safety researcher who led the testing project, said the danger is greatest for pregnant people and young children because the metals can cause developmental problems, affect brain development, and lead to lower IQ.

However, Akinleye added that 'there are risks for people of any age' as frequent exposure can result in issues with the nervous system, hypertension, immune system suppression, kidney damage and reproductive issues.

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The researcher made clear that you don't need to give up chocolate entirely, but it is important to limit exposure when you can.

Akinleye explained that while most of the chocolate bars in the tests had concerning levels of lead, cadmium or both, five of them were relatively low in both, meaning it is 'possible for companies to make products with lower amounts of heavy metals – and for consumers to find safer products that they enjoy'.

In response to the findings, Christopher Gindlesperger, a spokesperson the National Confectioners Association, told TODAY dark chocolate bars 'can be enjoyed as treats as they have been for centuries'.

“The products cited in this study are in compliance with strict quality and safety requirements," he said.

The study determined its 'safer choices' include Mast Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa; Taza Chocolate Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao; Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao and Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao; and Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao.