3 Safest (and a couple of the most dangerous) Dark Chocolate Bars – Heavy Metals

Consumer Reports published a list of the safest and most dangerous dark chocolate bars containing the heavy metals lead and cadmium.

Lead and cadmium are metals found in soils, so cacao beans naturally take up these toxins. But most of the lead issue seems to occur after harvesting while the beans are drying in the open air or during the manufacturing process.

A quick check of medical journals found high cadmium and lead exposure and levels increase the risk of lung, kidney, breast, prostate, colon, pancreas cancers.

A low zinc level increases the risk of dying from higher cadmium levels. [i] It seems zinc helps balance the cancer risks for several toxic metals including cadmium. If you can’t get a blood test for zinc, ask your local compounding pharmacy for a zinc taste test. An example is https://flourishrx.com/test-kit-products/zinc-taste-test?rq=zinc 

Consumer Reports used California's maximum allowable dose level (MADL) for lead (0.5 micrograms) and cadmium (4.1mcg). Shown are the percentages of the MADL supplied in an ounce of each chocolate.

Lead and cadmium are metals found in soils, so cacao beans naturally take up these toxins. But most of the lead issue seems to occur after harvesting while the beans are drying in the open air or during the manufacturing process.

A quick check of medical journals found high cadmium and lead exposure and levels increase the risk of lung, kidney, breast, prostate, colon, pancreas cancers.

According to Consumer Reports

The 3 safest dark chocolate bars:
Mast 80% Organic Cocoa
Lead 14% Cadmium 40%

Taza Chocolate 70% Organic
Lead: 33% Cadmium 74%

Ghirardelli 86% Intense Dark Cacao
Lead 36% Cadmium 39%

Ghirardelli 72% Intense Dark Cacao
lead 61% Cadmium 96% 

Highest Cadmium

Trader Joe’s 85% Cacao
Lead 127% Cadmium: 229%

Highest Lead

Hershey’s
Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate
Lead: 265% Cadmium: 30%

Get the full story at:
Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate - Consumer Reports

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Reference Sources Include

[i] Lin YS, Caffrey JL, Lin JW, et al. Increased risk of cancer mortality associated with cadmium exposures in older Americans with low zinc intake. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2013;76(1):1-15. doi:10.1080/15287394.2012.722185

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-are-common-in-chocolate-especially-organic-a1042224604/

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/

A Hands,Jacob M., %A Anderson,Mark L.  et al. 2024, J. Frontiers in Nutrition, Lead, Cadmium, metal, Cocoa, Cocoa & chocolates, 10.3389/fnut.2024.1366231 2024-July-31  Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic in Dark Chocolate. T A multi-year heavy metal analysis of 72 dark chocolate and cocoa products in the USA.

Young Ae Cho,Jeongseon Kim ,Hae Dong Woo,Moonsu Kang, Dietary Cadmium Intake and the Risk of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis, Published: September 17, 2013, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075087

Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2016) 26, 437–444; doi:10.1038/jes.2016.6;

Wang, X., Han, X., Guo, S. et al. Associations between patterns of blood heavy metal exposure and health outcomes: insights from NHANES 2011–2016. BMC Public Health 24, 558 (2024). Doi:10.1186/s12889-024-17754-0