This is a brief summary of the information from Consumer Reports
The Yolk
Isn’t dark chocolate healthy?
- Dark chocolate is known for its flavanols with many health benefits
- It has magnesium and potassium
- It has less sugar than other chocolate
- But lead and cadmium exist in dark chocolate
Why are heavy metals found in dark chocolate?
- Cocoa solids are at a higher percentage in dark chocolate – where heavy metals accumulate
- Cadmium comes from the soil where cacao beans are grown
- Lead is found in the dust and dirt after harvesting
Should you be worried about heavy metals?
- The cadmium and lead content is below the acceptable amount
- Not if you eat a well balanced diet
- Not if you don’t overconsume, but know that children are susceptible to lead accumulation
- More risk for pregnant women
What can you do?
- Choose safer brands of dark chocolate mentioned in the article, who may have better manufacturing processes
- Mast organic dark chocolate 80%
- Taza chocolate 70%
- Ghiradelli 86% and 72%
- Valrhona 85%
- See all results here for different brands tested
- Limit dark chocolate for children and pregnant women
- Don’t assume organic is better in this case – all have it
- Eat a well rounded diet
Perspective
It’s okay to eat some dark chocolate
- Many foods have some amount of heavy metals, even fresh produce and water
- Eat a well rounded diet, have occasional chocolate, and you will likely be okay
Everything in moderation
- It’s confusing to hear a food, like dark chocolate, is healthy for us and then hear this information
- Being well balanced in your diet should ease worries about this
Resources & Research
