Building upon a December 2022 report on the levels of toxic heavy metals in dark chocolate, Consumer Reports recently published new findings about the contaminants in other kinds of chocolates, suggesting that one-third of chocolate products contain high levels of heavy metals.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study has estimated a toxicological reference value (TRV) for oral cadmium exposure. TRVs are useful in the development of action levels for contaminants in foods like toxic heavy metals.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA’s NIFA) has granted a Michigan State University (MSU) research team $611,000 to explore the uptake of toxic heavy metals in food crops, with the goal of providing a guide containing mitigation strategies and decision-making resources for growers and policymakers.
In support of FDA's Closer to Zero initiative, researchers have conducted a risk assessment that estimates the U.S. population’s dietary exposure to cadmium. The study found children aged 6–24 months and 24–60 months to be the populations most highly exposed to cadmium, with concerning levels of exposure when compared to guidelines set by regulatory agencies.
A recent study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology suggests that lead, cadmium, and mercury have varying negative effects on human brain development and cognition.
The National Confectioners Association and As You Sow have compiled recommendations based on findings from a three-year study that explored ways to reduce the presence of cadmium and lead in cocoa and chocolate.
