Lead and Cadmium found in Chocolate

[Dirtmechanic]

Can metals be taken up into the plant to cause the source of this problem? Are other nuts, pods etc at risk as well? Consumer Reports is said to be the testing source in this article:

Consumer Reports Found Lead In Dark Chocolate From Trader Joe's, Lindt, And More - Tasting Table

If you like dark chocolate, you're not going to like the findings of a new study that looked at lead and cadmium levels in popular dark chocolate bars.

www.tastingtable.com

This source article has a lot of answers and context. Still bothersome to me.

Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports tested 28 dark chocolate bars and found cadmium and lead in all of them. Here's how to limit your heavy metal exposure.

www.consumerreports.org

 

[ducks4you]

Yes, plants take up metals. That is why certain plants can be strategically planted to clean up polluted land and water.
Guess Trader Joe's found a deal on chocolate that they couldn't resist.

 

[flowerbug]

we used to get dark chocolate from them, but in recent years we've been going more for the milk chocolate bars instead. they were always the best flavor and texture for us. will still get them (we have a current order in for 5kg).

 

[meadow]

There is a link within the article to the original report. If you read it, you may notice that the numbers used were California's standard for what is an acceptable amount (unless I'm mistaken -- I'm already forgetting what I've read, dang it). I'm not sure how that compares to other standards... although I expect CA's standard is tighter.

If you read his report, and follow the link to his twitter account to read others of his reports, you will find that he has a strong bias which may or may not affect how you view his credibility.

That being said, "Yes" plants do take up nasty stuff from the ground. They're using that as a way to clean up seriously hazardous stuff on southern Vashon Island that was blown across (in the air and settled on the ground on Vashon) from a factory south of them in Tacoma.

[eta: oops! I hadn't seen the other thread where you linked the Consumer Report article]

 

[baymule]

So….. I get dementia, blame it on the chocolate?

 

[flowerbug]

in Mom's case she ate lead paint chips as a kid. i tell her that it explains a lot...

some of the article talks about lead coming into the process after the beans are harvested so that can be eliminated with some care. cadmium can be more of an issue, but i can imagine that this will now come down as it will be checked and monitored.

heavy metals in crops can be common if people are recycling sewage solids onto farmlands and if the source of the sewage is a combined industrial and residential system. if you are smart you don't do combined systems like that, but a lot of older ones are still set up that ways.

 

[Dirtmechanic]

I read that the makers are laying the drying nuts in "husk dust" that has a lot of the lead basically. Hopefully changing procedures helps this because I am a late night chocolate cheater to the bone.

 

[nune]

Interesting article. I'd like to note that California's poisoning standards are very broad and occasionally products like sugar-free candy from small brands and beanbag chairs can have warnings on them that their products can cause cancer after prolonged use.

I understand the concern, but it can be ridiculous to see on packaging.

 

[heirloomgal]

Too many foods out there with lead in them, and baby food one of the worst. Wild game is pretty bad for lead too, along with fish. Apparently leafy greens are one of the worst veggies for lead contamination.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Too many foods out there with lead in them, and baby food one of the worst. Wild game is pretty bad for lead too, along with fish. Apparently leafy greens are one of the worst veggies for lead contamination.

Yeah, it's a pity; we've messed up the environment so much by now that even the natural and wild foods aren't any freer of industrial toxins than the processed stuff is. So much for going back to nature "for your health".

My chocolate brands of choice aren't on the list (since most are foreign) so I guess I'll have to stay in the dark for now.