Happy Sunday to all.
I know I will be very unpopular with this post, especially amongst the chocolate fans, but are you aware that you may be getting heavy metals, lead and cadmium via the chocolate you eat?
How Do Toxic Heavy Metals Get into Chocolate?
There are a few ways in which heavy metals get into food, such as:
- Contaminated soil
- Pesticides
- Industrial processes
- Environmental pollutants, such as industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust fumes
In the case of chocolate, cadmium is present in the soil as a result of volcanic activity, forest fires and the weathering of rocks. Cadmium is absorbed from the soil by the cacao tree and finds its way into the pods and beans, which are then processed and turned into chocolate. The levels vary depending on geographical location, soil acidity and the variety of cocoa being grown—for example, higher levels are found in South American cocoa compared to African cocoa.
Lead, on the other hand, is a post-harvest byproduct. Once the beans are harvested and left to dry in the sun, often on the roadside, the beans can become contaminated with dust and dirt containing lead from machinery and vehicle exhaust fumes. Levels of lead in chocolate are much lower than cadmium and are usually nothing to be concerned about.
How Much Toxic Heavy Metal is Safe to Consume?
Cocoa products aren’t the only foodstuffs to contain lead and cadmium; carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and even tap water all contain some lead and/or cadmium. In fact, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), chocolate products only contribute 4.3% to the average individual’s intake of cadmium.
Food that we consume in higher quantities has the greatest impact on our dietary exposure to cadmium, rather than foods with higher levels of cadmium like chocolate. For example, grains and grain products were the largest contributor at 26.9%, followed by vegetables at 16% and starchy roots and tubers at 13.2%.
Should You be Worried About Toxic Heavy Metals in Your Chocolate?
Lindt, Godiva and Green and Black are considered very high in these elements, so just be careful with selection.
Risk of these toxic elements harming a healthy adult is very low, and the benefits from other nutrients in foods like grains, vegetables and dark chocolate far outweigh the risk of any potential harm.
