Most chocolate products tested deemed safe by FDA standards, but researchers caution about exceeding portion sizes
A study spanning several years and involving numerous chocolate products has uncovered that almost half of them contain heavy metals above California’s recommended levels. However, most of these products are considered safe according to federal standards.
Conducted by researchers at George Washington University, the study examined 72 cocoa-containing products from 2017 to 2022. The findings, published recently in Frontiers in Nutrition magazine, revealed that 43% of these products had lead concentrations exceeding California’s Prop 65 safe levels, with 35% also surpassing the recommended limit for cadmium.
A study by George Washington University researchers discovered that 43% of numerous chocolate products contained lead levels above the safe threshold set by California’s stringent standards. (Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Images/File)
Interestingly, 70 out of the 72 chocolate products tested were found to be within the permissible limits for lead contamination as set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The researchers emphasized that while these products might not pose a health risk when consumed in moderation, exceeding recommended portion sizes could breach California’s safety guidelines.
Researchers caution that exceeding daily recommended servings of chocolate may pose health risks. (iStock)
The suggested serving size for chocolate is approximately 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 grams).
“If contaminated products are consumed in small amounts and not frequently, these contaminants may not be a public health concern,” the study reads. “On the other hand, regular consumption of many such products could lead to additive exposure and pose a public health risk.”
The contamination issue has been previously highlighted by some consumer groups and independent testing agencies, attributing it to factors like soil quality in cocoa-growing regions and industrial processing methods.
