Lead found in nearly half of dark chocolate, other cocoa products, study finds

A multiyear study of dozens of chocolate products shows an alarming percentage containing heavy metals above the state of California‘s recommended levels, but most are deemed safe by the federal government’s standards.

Researchers from George Washington University tested 72 cocoa-containing products from 2017 to 2022 and found 43% contained lead at a higher concentration than deemed safe under California’s Prop 65 law, and 35% exceeded the recommended level of cadmium, according to findings released this week in Frontiers in Nutrition magazine.

A new study by George Washington University researchers found 43% of dozens of chocolate products had lead contamination that were above levels deemed safe by strict California standards. (Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Images/File)

However, researchers found 70 of the 72 cocoa-containing products they analyzed fell below limits set by the Food and Drug Administration for lead contamination.

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The researchers said the findings of their study showed the products may not pose a health risk when consumed as single servings, though larger portions could exceed the strict California limits.

Researchers warn that exceeding daily recommended servings of chocolate could pose a risk to consumers. (iStock)

The recommended single serving for chocolate is about 1 ounce to 2 ounces (30 gm to 60 gm).

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“If contaminated products as a whole are consumed in small amounts and infrequently by most, these contaminants may not be a public health concern,” the study reads. “In contrast, if many such products are consumed fairly regularly by the average consumer, the additive exposure may be a public health concern.”

Raw cocoa beans (Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)

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Some consumer groups and independent test agencies have previously reported heavy metal contamination in cocoa products such as dark chocolate, with possible causes being the type of soil where cocoa is grown and industrial processing.