"Significant Amount of Lead and Cadmium Exceeding Standards Detected in US Dark Chocolate"

George Washington University Medical School Research
"43% of 72 Products Exceed Lead Standards"

A study has found that a significant number of cocoa-containing products, including dark chocolate sold in the United States, contain lead and cadmium levels exceeding the standard limits.

On the 31st of last month (local time), US CBS News and others reported this citing a research paper published by a team from George Washington University School of Medicine in the journal 'Frontiers in Nutrition.' The research team analyzed 72 cocoa-containing products sold in the US and found that 43% contained lead above the standard limit.

Products exceeding the cadmium limit accounted for 35%. Additionally, among the analyzed products, organic products were found to contain more lead and cadmium than regular products. However, arsenic levels were below the standard limit in all products.

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This study applied the standards set by California state law (PROP65), which regulates allowable heavy metal levels in food. When applying the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lead limit standards, 70 out of the 72 analyzed products fell below the limit. However, CBS explained, "The FDA does not specify heavy metal content limits for most foods, so California's regulations are often used as safety standards."

The research team purchased these products four times over eight years since 2014 and analyzed the degree of heavy metal contamination. The products were sold both online and offline through platforms such as Amazon, iHerb, GNC, and Whole Foods, and were manufactured in the US or Europe. The researchers did not disclose specific product names or manufacturers.

There is an opinion that the detection of lead and cadmium in chocolate is inevitable due to the cultivation process of cacao, the raw material of chocolate. Cadmium is commonly found in soil and is absorbed by plant roots, affecting the fruit. Lead particles carried by the wind come into contact with the surface of cacao pods when they are dried outdoors. Continuous exposure to heavy metals can cause health problems such as kidney and brain damage, bone and lung diseases, and increased risk of anemia. Lead is particularly dangerous for children as it can severely affect the development of the brain, nervous system, and other vital organs, potentially causing lower IQ and hyperactivity.

The research team stated, "Cocoa-containing products tend to have high metal content due to cultivation and manufacturing methods," adding, "Especially dark chocolate contains a lot of soil metals, and contamination during processing is also well known." They warned that consuming only one serving of these cocoa-containing products may not cause health problems, but eating more than one serving or consuming them together with other heavy metal-containing foods such as seafood could expose consumers to heavy metals above the standard limits.

Lee Frame, a researcher at George Washington University, said, "Chocolate is not dangerous or bad, but since other foods may also be contaminated with heavy metals, it is important to diversify the diet to avoid exposure to the same food repeatedly." He recommended consuming about 1 ounce (approximately 28g) of chocolate products per day. One ounce is about one-third of a typical chocolate bar, and Frame added, "If it is difficult to eat 1 ounce of chocolate at once, 2 ounces every other day is also acceptable."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.