Panic in the Chocolate Shop

There’s sad, bad news on the dark chocolate front.

Consumer Reports has done a study on heavy metals (and they’re not talking about Black Sabbath but wouldn’t that be interesting) in dark chocolate. It’s a little surprising and frightening.

We tested 28 dark chocolate bars for lead and cadmium. To determine the risk posed by the chocolates in CR’s test, we 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. Our results indicate which products had comparatively higher levels and are not assessments of whether a product exceeds a legal standard. We used those levels because there are no federal limits for the amount of lead and cadmium most foods can contain, and CR’s scientists believe that California’s levels are the most protective available. While both cadmium and lead pose serious health risks, products within each category are listed in order of lead level, because that heavy metal poses particular concerns and no amount of it is considered safe. (source)

The worst?

Lily's
Extremely Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa
LEAD—143%
CADMIUM—101%
Green & Black's
Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
LEAD—143%
CADMIUM—181%

Theo
Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa
LEAD—140%
CADMIUM—189%

Trader Joe's
The Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate 85% Cacao
LEAD—127%
CADMIUM—229%

Theo
Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa
LEAD—120%
CADMIUM—142%

On the safer front are:

Mast
Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa
LEAD—14%
CADMIUM—40%

Taza Chocolate
Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
LEAD—33%
CADMIUM—74%

Ghirardelli
Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao
LEAD—36%
CADMIUM—39%

Ghirardelli
Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72% Cacao
LEAD—61%
CADMIUM—96%

Valrhona
Abinao Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao
LEAD—63%
CADMIUM—73%

Especially high in lead levels are:
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (192%)
Hu Organic Simple Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (210%)
Chocolove Extreme Dark Chocolate 88% Cocoa (240%)
Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate (265%)

I don’t need to totally panic as I actually, contrary to popular belief, don’t eat chocolate every single day. Yea me for having a modicum of choco self-control. CR ends the article with a list of ways I can eat dark chocolate AND remain safe-ish. These recommendations include:

• Choose dark chocolates with the lowest levels of heavy metals. (yeah duh!)
  

• Treat chocolate as a treat. “Having a serving a few days a week, especially with a product that has lower levels, means you can eat dark chocolate without worrying unduly,” says CR’s Tunde Akinleye, who oversaw the chocolate tests. (a few days a week—yeah, I could limit myself to that.)
  

• Don’t assume organic dark chocolates are safer. (oops, I had.)

Read the whole article—it’s fascinating.

My big take-away? Mast, Taza, Valrhona and Ghirardelli—good. Avoid the rest. The only brand available in most mainstream grocery stores is Ghirardelli but I can order the others on line.