NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Consumer Reports on Wednesday said it has found “concerning” levels of lead and cadmium in a new array of chocolate products, and renewed its call for Hershey to reduce the amounts of heavy metals its chocolate contains.
The magazine said 16 of the 48 chocolate products from various makers that its scientists tested recently in seven categories – dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and mixes for brownies, chocolate cake and hot chocolate – contained potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium or both.
All 48 products contained detectable amounts of the metals, and milk chocolate bars, which have fewer cocoa solids, was the only category that did not contain excess amounts, the report found.
Consumer Reports has said long-term exposure to the metals can result in nervous system problems, immune system suppression and kidney damage, with greater danger to pregnant women and young children.
Among the products found to contain excessive metal content were a dark chocolate bar and hot chocolate mix from Walmart, cocoa powder from Hershey’s … READ MORE.
