Consumer Reports Encourage Dark Chocolate Producers To Minimize Lead, Cadmium Levels

Consumer Reports on Monday prompted four chocolate makers to commit by Valentine’s Day to decrease the amounts of lead and cadmium in their dark chocolate products, after testing discovered harmful levels of the heavy metals.

In letters to Hershey Co (HSY.N), Theo Chocolate, Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ.O), and Trader Joe’s, Consumer Reports said long-term exposure to the metals can lead to kidney damage, nervous system problems, and immune system suppression.

It said the danger was more substantial for pregnant women and young children because of the risk of developmental problems. The letters were accompanied by almost 55,000 petition signatures.

In December, Consumer Reports said 23 of the 28 dark chocolate bars it tested contained potentially hazardous levels of lead, cadmium, or both for people who consume more than one ounce of chocolate per day.

Five had high levels of both metals: two from Theo, and one each from Hershey-owned Lily’s, Trader Joe’s, and Mondelez-owned Green & Black’s.

Consumer Reports said most consumers eat dark chocolate for its possible health benefits and low sugar levels, but “there’s nothing healthy about ingesting heavy metals.”

The chocolate producers did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

The National Confectioners Association, a trade group, said the California health guidelines that Consumer Reports used and considered “the most protective available,” are “not food safety standards” and that chocolate continues to be safe for consumption.

Trader Joe’s has been sued at least nine times by consumers over its dark chocolate since Consumer Reports published its study. Hershey’s and Mondelez have also been sued over the magazine’s findings, as have other chocolate producers, such as Godiva and Lindt (LISN.S).