Is there a Downside to Dark Chocolate Consumption for Children?
Source: Medical Xpress
Introduction:
Concerns arose among chocolate enthusiasts following a 2023 Consumer Reports revelation about potential harmful levels of lead and cadmium in certain dark chocolate brands.
Story Overview:
- A recent study conducted by Tulane University, published in Food Research International, offers reassuring findings.
- Examining 155 dark and milk chocolate varieties from global brands available in the United States, researchers tested for 16 heavy metals, ranging from toxic to essential.
- The study assessed the risk of consuming one ounce of chocolate daily, equivalent to more than two chocolate bars per week. While results showed only one dark chocolate brand exceeding the international cadmium limit for bars with over 50% cacao and minimal risk for adults, four dark chocolate bars posed potential risks to children weighing 33 pounds or less.
- Lead levels in two chocolate bars exceeded California’s interim standards for dark chocolates but didn’t pose adverse risks.
Conclusion:
Unlike previous studies, this comprehensive research delved into 16 metals, incorporating nutritional benefits and risk assessment. Dark chocolates were found to be rich in essential minerals, potentially mitigating toxic metal absorption. Lead contamination often occurs during post-harvest processing, while cadmium stems from soil and cacao bean transmission. Geographically, South American dark chocolates exhibited higher metal levels compared to those from Asia and West Africa, yet consumption within limits posed no adverse risks.
To read more, click link: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/is-there-a-downside-to-dark-chocolate-a-recent-study-has-discovered-that-the-risk-of-children-being-affected-by-metals-in-chocolates-is-extremely-low/
Source of image: Medical Xpress
