Hershey Urged to Address Heavy Metals in Chocolate: Significant Levels Detected
Consumer Reports, a non-profit consumer group, has recently called on Hershey, one of the leading chocolate manufacturers, to take immediate action in reducing the levels of heavy metals found in its chocolate products. The organization’s scientists discovered concerning levels of lead and cadmium in a third of the various chocolate products they tested.
Upon analyzing 48 different chocolate products from various makers, Consumer Reports found that 16 of them contained potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium, or both. These alarming findings have raised concerns about the safety of consuming chocolate, as both lead and cadmium can pose serious health risks when exposed to over extended periods.
The group tested products in seven categories, including dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and assortments for brownies, chocolate cake, and hot chocolate. Shockingly, excessive levels of heavy metals were found in a dark chocolate bar and hot chocolate mix from Walmart, cocoa powder from Hershey’s and Droste, semi-sweet chocolate chips from Target, and hot chocolate mixes from Trader Joe’s, Nestle, and Starbucks.
Consumer Reports clarified that only milk chocolate bars, which contain fewer cocoa solids, were found to have safe levels of heavy metal content. This alarming discovery highlights the need for immediate action from chocolate manufacturers to ensure the safety of their products, especially considering that pregnant women and young children are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal exposure.
In response to the findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that chocolate is considered a minor source of exposure to lead and cadmium internationally. Nevertheless, it emphasized that manufacturers and processors hold the responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of their products.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Hershey has been implicated in such concerns. In December, Consumer Reports found excessive levels of lead or cadmium in 23 out of 28 tested dark chocolate bars, including Hershey products sold under its own brand, as well as the Lily’s and Scharffen Berger brands.
Hershey’s Chief Financial Officer, Steve Voskuil, acknowledged the issue in March, stating that the company was actively working to reduce the levels of lead and cadmium. Voskuil argued that these metals are naturally occurring elements in soil and can therefore be found in chocolate products.
Despite the FDA’s assertion that chocolate is a minor source of heavy metal exposure, it is evident that the presence of concerning levels in various chocolate products demands immediate attention and action from manufacturers. The health and well-being of consumers, particularly pregnant women and young children, must be prioritized.
As consumers, it is crucial to stay informed about the products we consume and the potential risks associated with them. It is recommended to choose milk chocolate bars, which have been found to have safer levels of heavy metals. Additionally, advocacy groups like Consumer Reports play a vital role in raising awareness about these concerns and pressuring companies to prioritize product safety.
