Anonymous
02/09/2023 09:47
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
This is op. I saw this in the New York Times that has a little more info and mentions a FDA study and links to this database of more chocolate brands tested:
https://www.asyousow.org/environmental-health/toxic-enforcement/toxic-chocolate#chocolate-tables
"Should I Avoid Dark Chocolate"
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/well/eat/dark-chocolate-metal-lead.html
QUOTE:
"Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition at the University of Delaware, said she was curious to see the actual data as soon as she read the headlines: “These types of reports always get sensationalized.” When she took a closer look, though, she agreed that the results were worrisome.
“If you’re a regular consumer of these dark chocolates, I would be concerned,” she said, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or have a child who enjoys dark chocolate, as the health effects of these metals are most concerning during early brain development."
QUOTE
"Compared with more than 300 other foods tested by the F.D.A. in a separate study, dark chocolate had the third-highest concentrations of both cadmium and lead, exceeded only by baking powder and cocoa powder for lead, and cocoa powder and sunflower seeds for cadmium."
https://www.asyousow.org/environmental-health/toxic-enforcement/toxic-chocolate#chocolate-tables
"Should I Avoid Dark Chocolate"
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/well/eat/dark-chocolate-metal-lead.html
QUOTE:
"Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition at the University of Delaware, said she was curious to see the actual data as soon as she read the headlines: “These types of reports always get sensationalized.” When she took a closer look, though, she agreed that the results were worrisome.
“If you’re a regular consumer of these dark chocolates, I would be concerned,” she said, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or have a child who enjoys dark chocolate, as the health effects of these metals are most concerning during early brain development."
QUOTE
"Compared with more than 300 other foods tested by the F.D.A. in a separate study, dark chocolate had the third-highest concentrations of both cadmium and lead, exceeded only by baking powder and cocoa powder for lead, and cocoa powder and sunflower seeds for cadmium."
Anonymous
02/07/2023 10:55
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The article is very misleading. All of the chocolates tasted are within the safe levels according to California prop 65 and set forth by USDA. None of the chocolates are over the limit allowable for cocoa products. Notice nothing has been recalled..
Pretty much everything grown in the ground potentially contains some amount of heavy metals.
This. It's just that because of the CR review, chocolate is in the spotlight.
Given the info in the report, we're just opting for the brands with lower detected amounts and calling it good.
From what I understand, chocolate companies typically rotate where beans are sources and source from several different locations. Just because of one sample doesn’t mean any particular brand is always high or always low. Honestly though, I wouldn’t worry about it either way. These metals are In detectable amounts in many foods and environmental sources we come into contact with. It is part of life
Anonymous
02/07/2023 10:20
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Anonymous wrote:The article is very misleading. All of the chocolates tasted are within the safe levels according to California prop 65 and set forth by USDA. None of the chocolates are over the limit allowable for cocoa products. Notice nothing has been recalled..
Pretty much everything grown in the ground potentially contains some amount of heavy metals.
This. It's just that because of the CR review, chocolate is in the spotlight.
Given the info in the report, we're just opting for the brands with lower detected amounts and calling it good.
Anonymous
02/06/2023 14:15
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
I thought CR highlighted some of the lower ones were Ghirardelli.
Anonymous
02/06/2023 14:04
Subject: Re:Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Equal Exchange has some chocolate sourced in West Africa which I understand to be better on this than South American sources.
Anonymous
02/06/2023 13:56
Subject: Re:Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Anonymous wrote:The good chocolate made in Europe.,
Nope. They source their cocoa beans from the same places.
Anonymous
02/06/2023 13:55
Subject: Re:Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Anonymous wrote:The good chocolate made in Europe.,
They all source from the same plantations
Anonymous
02/06/2023 13:54
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
The article is very misleading. All of the chocolates tasted are within the safe levels according to California prop 65 and set forth by USDA. None of the chocolates are over the limit allowable for cocoa products. Notice nothing has been recalled..
Pretty much everything grown in the ground potentially contains some amount of heavy metals.
Pretty much everything grown in the ground potentially contains some amount of heavy metals.
Anonymous
02/06/2023 08:40
Subject: Re:Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Anonymous wrote:The good chocolate made in Europe.,
Do you have an example? Have those been tested?
Anonymous
02/06/2023 08:37
Subject: Re:Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
The good chocolate made in Europe.,
Anonymous
02/06/2023 08:34
Subject: Which chocolate is more likely to be low in lead, cadmium, etc?
Has anyone found a good source listing "safe" chocolate?
I don't love the fact that even the better ones tested by Consumer reports still contain heavy metals (https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/).
If the heavy metals are in the cacao, does that mean that cocoa powder is also likely to be contaminated?
Rethinking my plan to make dark chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day... But more importantly, but my spouse has a daily habit and their regular chocolates are on the "high" list. They also were on a big sale at Whole Foods before the story broke, which makes me suspect they were trying to dump them. We stocked up
I don't love the fact that even the better ones tested by Consumer reports still contain heavy metals (https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/).
If the heavy metals are in the cacao, does that mean that cocoa powder is also likely to be contaminated?
Rethinking my plan to make dark chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day... But more importantly, but my spouse has a daily habit and their regular chocolates are on the "high" list. They also were on a big sale at Whole Foods before the story broke, which makes me suspect they were trying to dump them. We stocked up