A team of researchers at George Washington University has made a surprising discovery after analyzing 72 types of commercial cocoa products over eight years. In a test focusing on heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, the researchers found that nearly half of the popular chocolate bars on the American market contain toxic metals associated with life-threatening diseases, including cancer.
The study compared the detected levels against the maximum limits defined by California Proposition 65 (Prop 65), which regulates the permissible amounts of potentially toxic metals in food or beverages. Researchers found that all of the products studied contained traces of toxic metals, with about half containing high levels of lead (approximately 20% above the allowable limit). Additionally, more than a third exceeded the permitted levels of cadmium, which has been linked to cancer and kidney damage.
The study did not disclose the specific types of chocolate that were tested. The team noted that a single serving of the candy is unlikely to cause health problems, but consuming multiple servings could pose risks, including kidney dysfunction, heart disease, and cancer. Dr. Lee Frame, the study's co-author and director of integrative medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, stated, "We all love chocolate, but it's important to consume it in moderation, similar to other foods that contain heavy metals, including large fish like tuna and unwashed brown rice."
Heavy metals can enter food products through soil, air, water, or during the manufacturing process, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These findings come amidst other recent research, estimating that thousands of cancer cases annually may be linked to foods containing lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
