How to Find the Best Dark Chocolates and Cocoas and Avoid Cadmium Contamination

[@MICHAELROYFE]

Lead and cadmium are naturally found in soil and aretaken up by the cacao plants. Valrhona cocoa powder from France was found to be low in cadmium and Lead according to Consumer Reports.

[@yeci8079]

Thank you

[@Anna65909]

coco powder or cacao powder ?

[@thelostcreole]

We grow cacao at our farm in Ecuador. I cannot speak on flavonols but our cacao is low in metals because we are not near a volcano with soil mixed with ash. Buyers as should investigate where to a cacao farmer is located. We do not Dutch the cacao but simply offer nibs or the raw beans in the open market.

[@claire4974]

Is there a website we can buy or where do you sell?

[@jeffreygleaves2931]

I wish he had gone over the brands. Most consumers are going to be stuck with Lindt, Ghirardelli and Hershey in the grocery store. Lindt says right on the package its treated with alkali but all the 'best chocolate' websites are recommending it for health benefits. I get Ghirardelli 92% but have no idea the butter/liquor ratio. His website won't tell you unless you become a member but I'm not jumping through that many hoops for information. He can give the information on this video. That's why I spent the time watching it.

[@niellalien]

Yeah, there's good info on this vid but recommendations would greatly be appreciated! I recently noticed that the Hershey's unsweetened cocoa is non-alkalized btw.

[@danajones3818]

Same

[@jamesgarcia4341]

I agree!!!

[@dlyatruby7444]

They want you to pay for that. This is just an advertising.I tried to over the link then first you are offered a possibility to read full report as registered member, When you try to register you get small print: "... I understand that I will have the option in the next step to become a paying member to read the full Review." that is it.

[@doejohn6197]

@@dlyatruby7444who’s a member here tell us which one it is !

[@danajones3818]

I’m so exhausted. Every time you think ur doing something healthier…there’s always some info to shut it down. Is there anything that’s safe to consume?

[@Robert-wb1ng]

No. Eat nothing

[@vintageb8]

fasting is good for you

[@EquineBallet]

It’s all just cake now, so don’t worry.

[@TradewithTeamworld]

Good! Gather dark cacao powder at Target, which is the BEST!- I have done extensive research

[@br1081]

Yep. Any topic on the Internet, especially health related, always have opposing views. Nothing is safe lol. Havent found one thing that everyone agrees on. Eventually someone comes up and gives the opposing view.

[@Hirokiji]

There are tonnes of small organic dark chocolate producers on the market nowadays. This report is 3 yrs old, and not sure how relevant this report is now. The brands you show in the background are not known by me at all, and it appears your testing was not done on very many brands, and you kept it localised. Cadmium is not the only risky metal; lead is also a risk in dark chocolates. But I get the key feature to look for when seeking healthier cocoa, thank you.

[@winstonbrown1516]

No it's not...., this video is 4 years old!

[@mboiko]

There's a bit more to the story...an activist group called "As You Sow" is behind Proposition 65 the STRICT law in California, that Consumer Reports used...NOT the FDA laws. "California's limitations set by Proposition 65 are some of the MOST protective in the country, according to Consumer Reports. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers more flexible recommendations for daily lead intake at 2.2 micrograms for children and 8.8 micrograms for women of childbearing age."

[@Robert-wb1ng]

All. Bs

[@jordand.316]

I'm happy to purchase the full report - information about the safety of chocolate products is extremely valuable. I'm concerned, however, as to whether one can rely on the consistency of these results. Considering all the variables involved, from the time of harvesting of beans, to the distribution and selection of (raw or semi-processed) materials by cocoa processors, to the production of final retail products, it seems that batch to batch consistency could potentially vary greatly. Not sure what to make of this and wondering if any manufacturers (a) have testing protocols for cadmium/lead levels and (b) disclose this information to consumers to provide assurance based on specific production lots.

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

We are not aware of companies disclosing cadmium levels to consumers. Even cocoa flavanol levels are rarely provided. It is certainly possible that results will vary somewhat from batch to batch, but so long as the beans are coming from the same region, there probably is not that much variation in products from established companies.

[@jordand.316]

@@ConsumerlabPlus Thank you for the considerate reply. Manufacturers should definitely be encouraged to publish such results; conumers want to know and this could provide a competative edge for those companies that are conscious of the health concerns. This may eventually drive quality improvements in the industry at large; ConsumerLab testing, no doubt, is positively influencing this procoess. I should also ask: Has ConsumerLab been publishing prior year results alongside current results (for specific products) to determine year-to-year consistency?

[@derekweavify]

@@jordand.316 Was it the Ghirardelli? It was the good one wasn't it :) haha

[@verovale5029]

@@derekweavify Supposedly passed the test for cadmium but if it’s not one it’s another, Unfortunately researchers found a small amount of lead and also this powder had the lowest antioxidants of the cocoa powders tested 😐

[@tristonherrera7144]

So what one was the best one?

[@2me888]

Which is the best to use

[@pauladdae3130]

Some brands have lower amounts of lead and cadmium and hence are better choices. Such as some dark chocolate products from: Ghirardelli, Mast, Taza and Valrhona (Abinao 85%). These are not easy to get in the UK though, apart from the latter. Not sure about Hu or Montezuma. However, both have published details stating that the levels in their products are acceptable according to EU standards - yet those levels are still very high. The bog standard dark chocolates in the large supermarket chains may have larger amounts.

[@Anna65909]

The levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium could fluctuate for the same product from year to year.

[@ennkaljo184]

Cocoa is already processed, but cacao is non-processed raw cacao beans or cacao nibs.

[@lego821]

Since some chocolate products contain relatively high cadmium levels, I've been wondering about occasionally using carob powder as a substitute in recipes for cacao powder. Do you have any insights into whether carob powder might similarly have elevated levels of any heavy metals?

[@manie3232]

Great question.I was wondering that same thing. I do know carob is caffeine free.

[@dinamariea61]

I learned that Nativa cacao powder is low in cadmium and lead. I accidentally got another brand that has similar packaging. I contacted the company and they said they do not test for heavily metals in there imported cacao which I learned is from Peru, one of the regions where in some areas have heavy metals. The person who responded said she will send a message to her team about possibly testing in the future but you know we won’t know if they will ever do so. I am going to listen to this video and hopefully learn how I can get the cacao tested, as I bought a huge package and do not want to throw it out just yet.

[@callmeishmael3031]

I’d probably become a member if you updated this research every year.

[@deb_is_here1425]

Seems UNFAIR to make us pay to get the much needed information. I'll just quit cacao!

[@cubannel12]

I buy the Lindt 100% cocoa. I would like to know what is the flavanols and cadmium content in it.

[@skincraftorganicsllc8537]

Lindt cocoa had a lot of cadmium.

[@cubannel12]

@@skincraftorganicsllc8537 what oh no. I eat the 100% just to get the benefits of the polyphenols.

[@Hirokiji]

@@skincraftorganicsllc8537 Cadmium and Lead, they also use alkali. It's not real chocolate anymore...

[@pauladdae3130]

Some brands have lower amounts of lead and cadmium and hence are better choices. Such as some dark chocolate products from: Ghirardelli, Mast, Taza and Valrhona (Abinao 85%). These are not easy to get in the UK though, apart from the latter. Not sure about Hu or Montezuma. However, both have published details stating that the levels in their products are acceptable according to EU standards - yet those levels are still very high. The bog standard dark chocolates in the large supermarket chains may have larger amounts.

[@MyEvette]

Hi.. Which “ Cacao Powder “ has In the less Cadmium Contamination, Meaning Which Cacao Powder Brand Is Best Please??

[@emilyc5625]

Yes please we need to know ! People are outraged on Amazon about this

[@skincraftorganicsllc8537]

VALRHONA - I bought some through Amazon. It is Dutch process, so not high in flavonols, but at least it's low in cadmium. Ghirardelli Premium cocoa is also fairly low in cadmium... it's very high in iron, so watch that if you need to be careful of that.

[@MyEvette]

@@skincraftorganicsllc8537 thank U - very much, keep Up the good work!

[@emilyc5625]

Omg I’ve been having cocao powder like 4 tablespoons a day for 2 years as a replacement for coffee

[@skincraftorganicsllc8537]

me too.

[@Celestials1aurora]

Sigh me too..

[@emilyc5625]

Has anyone stopped having cocao since watching this video ? I haven’t bc it’s my only source of caffeine and I can’t drink coffee but now I’m scared of getting sick

[@emilyc5625]

@@truthgambit911 you think so ?

[@Celestials1aurora]

@@emilyc5625 yea I’m taking a step back since I been having it daily already.. I’m kinda scared too not going to lie.

[@content1]

Hi, thanks for your video. It would be really helpful to have on your reviews some brands outside the US. I live in China and this would be really helpful. Thank you.

[@serg3y]

So why is the cadmium concentration so high?

[@brindlekintales]

I'd like to know the lead and cadmium content found in Abuelita chocolate, it's a very popular brand. But I can't find any info on this, anywhere in my searches.

[@ourlittlefamily8342]

Does cocoa butter have cadmium?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

No

[@pauladdae3130]

Some brands have lower amounts of lead and cadmium and hence are better choices. Such as some dark chocolate products from: Ghirardelli, Mast, Taza and Valrhona (Abinao 85%). These are not easy to get in the UK though, apart from the latter. Not sure about Hu or Montezuma. However, both have published details stating that the levels in their products are acceptable according to EU standards - yet those levels are still very high. The bog standard dark chocolates in the large supermarket chains may have larger amounts.

[@justinpetergriffin5877]

I love you doc, thank you for everything you do. ❤

[@alexisdix6704]

I'm curious. Do you know how these products become contaminated with cadmium?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

Mostly likely from the soil in which it is grown. Cocoa plants tend to pick up cadmium and lead from the soil.

[@carpediemjonah8110]

Many plants readily absorb heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, etc, if those metals exist in the soil. Hence do not buy any cocoa or dark chocolate that is sourced in China. Consumer Reports did their own research and found that cocoa powders sourced from South America contained relatively high levels of cadmium. Consumer Reports found that some of the lowest levels of toxic metals were found in cocoa beans sourced from West Africa. To avoid possible confusion, Consumer Reports and Consumer Labs are two different companies. I highly recommend subscribing to Consumers Labs, as they produce the more detailed analysis, and provide relative ranking of many name brands.

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

Yes, cadmium levels tend to be higher in Central & South America than Africa, although most confectionary chocolate and cocoa is from the Americas, not Africa. I'm not aware of chocolates sourced from China, but, green teas from China do contain more lead than those from Japan, as we have seen in our Green Tea testing.

[@Mimicry161]

Extremely useful! Thank you

[@jerrybruns6632]

Thank you so much for the work that you do. The web site information is so valuable and helpful.

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

Thank you, Jerry. We're glad to know that ConsumerLab is helpful to you!

[@braunebuch]

Could you tell me what happened to Aduna Super Cacao? You approved it in the previous round of tests, but it's not even listed in the latest tests. Is it still (comparatively) low in cadmium?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

As noted as an update in our last report, we were informed that its formulation/sourcing had changed and it no longer provided the particularly high flavanol levels we found several years ago.

[@user-zk8ed4kd2b]

Were any Dutched products tested for heavy metals?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

Yes. All of the products were tested for heavy metals, including those that had been dutched (i.e., alkali processed). That process reduces cocoa flavanol levels, but it is not clear that it affects heavy metal levels.

[@jeangreen432]

What are the actual mcg levels of cadmium and lead in these products per serving? thank you!

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

That information is in the full report on our website - although we have updated this Review with results for more current products to help keep it up-to-date.

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

That information is in the full report on our website - although we have updated this Review with results for more current products to help keep it up-to-date.

[@peterrabbit2719]

Can you explain where the cadmium is coming from in the chocolate? Is it from the earth it is grown from? Is it just a natural by product in cocoa pods? Is it in the process of making chocolate? Please give details?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

The soil in which it is grown. Lead, on the other hand, is speculated to be introduced during processing.

[@anifazion8419]

Does choclate nesquik have cadmium

[@manie3232]

What is Dutched? What is done to the cacao that makes it dutched?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

It is alkalized (treated chemically) giving it a darker color and smoother flavor, but this also significantly reduces cocoa flavanols which are thought to be beneficial.

[@thepatriotrocker8001]

Is the lead and cadmium something that is naturally occurring in the plant or is this something that occurs during processing?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

They are most likely taken up from the soil where the plants grow.

[@personalexperience3637]

Does Ruby chocolate contain less cadmium & lead?

[@Viv8ldi]

Memo: Alkalinisierung der Schokolade reduziert die Flavonoiden

[@alsindtube]

Just trying, unsuccessfully so far, to find out whether or not Lindt 95% dark chocolate bars (I eat 1/2 bar daily) are safe to consume?

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I don't want anyone messing with my ice cream bars.

[@Viv8ldi]

Is every soil on the planet contaminated with lead and cadmium? there must be one cocoa plant that is less contaminated right?

[@Viv8ldi]

if every soil is contaminated with lead, then isnt it logical that everything we grop is contaminated with lead?

[@springrose9884]

is lindt dark chocolate 70% contain large amount of Cadmium???

[@skincraftorganicsllc8537]

Lindt had a lot of cadmium.

[@ConanNYC]

I’m very concerned because I’ve been having dark chocolate everyday for years after lunch how can I find out how much lead I have inside me?

[@pauladdae3130]

Some brands have lower amounts of lead and cadmium and hence are better choices. Such as some dark chocolate products from: Ghirardelli, Mast, Taza and Valrhona (Abinao 85%). These are not easy to get in the UK though, apart from the latter. Not sure about Hu or Montezuma. However, both have published details stating that the levels in their products are acceptable according to EU standards - yet those levels are still very high. The bog standard dark chocolates in the large supermarket chains may have larger amounts.

[@ladonnabellavillalobos9627]

For me I’m just gonna quit eating it all together, everything‘s too conflicting it’s not even worth the chance, I did notice when I started eating it with my pistachios that I couldn’t hardly pee anymore I couldn’t figure out what was wrong I guess I know now It’s not worth the benefits for what it could do to you, and then I found out that vegetables and plants has cyanide in them and different poisons as their natural defense so animals wouldn’t eat them so I guess we can’t eat anything why don’t we just do like the Jetsons on the cartoon growing up just passed you gonna have to drink water though and take vitamins don’t eat any food there’s something wrong with every food there is according to our surveys you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t so you better well have faith in the Lord Jesus I sure would pay a subscription to these people, too many people lie how do we know if they’re telling us the truth, could they could be owned by big Pharma and you know how safe they are GMO synthetic prescription drugs they have all the side effects and now they’re trying to tell us the natural stuff are organic so is organic chocolate bad to, I say I don’t believe none of this I am true I just ask God to bless my food and take the bed out make it nutrition for my body I’ve been doing it for years, so the vitamins I take are made from real food sprouts , But they’ll probably come up with something saying sprouts are not good for you too who knows it’s a shame that everybody lies you can’t trust anybody when I found out about what they were doing to olive oil in America, well I did a lot of research on the olive oil myself and I know Spanish olive oil is the best that the extra-virgin olive oil in Spain you have to get the kind uses only the certain type olive and they only use the same olive in all their olive oil they don’t use different batches of olives I didn’t see that on consumer report, what I did was call my family in Spain my relatives in Italy and my relatives in Greece and they told me the Spanish olive oil was the best Second was Greece and third was Italy which really surprised me, but they live there they told me and I would rather blame my relatives, in America is olive oil‘s mix with other oils and other extra-virgin oils, shame on our government but you know how it goes big Pharma is behind everything Kind of makes me wonder why everybody wants to move to America well by family in Mexico, don’t use Monsanto or GMO’s most countries across the pond don’t use GMO’s or Monsanto they know how to get rid of pests naturally the jokes on us

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Vitamin and supplimemt use has higher rate of death. There's also 0 evidence it does any actual good. When it's not made in China with heavy metals or melamine. Which will kill you. Possibly, vitamin D and folic acid for pregnant women. That's about it

[@tazboy1934]

I use buttter

[@Hirokiji]

Even the water you drink is not the same water it was 100 years ago. It's totally adulterated, de-structured water, which is not at all hydrating and has no memory. Water is a conscious living source or energy when structured and healthy.

[@DMunsonJr]

some punctuation pls…

[@brindlekintales]

News flash: Lord Jesus ranks dangerously high in the heavy metal chart...probably thanks to the spikes driven through his hands and feet. So stop drinking his blood and eating his flesh already. Besides which, that's cannibalistic!

[@MelroyvandenBerg]

What is Dutched? I'm a Dutch person.

[@jameslangschied7900]

A Dutch man in the 19th century developed the "dutched" process. He reduced the bitterness of the acidic cacao beans by processing them with alkaline chemicals. It makes for a darker color and less bitterness. The problem is that the alkaline destroys a large amount of the healthy flavanols. In the U.S., this information is listed on the back of chocolate bar labels.

[@spurzo-thespiralspacewolf8916]

How many TBS cocoa powder is safe per day? I was taking 6 TBS = 30 g. Per day

[@emilyc5625]

Same now I am Scared he said no more than 1 tablespoon and I’ve been having 4 a day

[@emilyc5625]

Have you stopped having it since watching this video ?

[@serg3y]

5:10 how much chocolate is "one cup of Coco"?

[@Viv8ldi]

Memo: the darker the cocoa powder the more its flavonoids were extracted (dutched)

[@Viv8ldi]

dutched products are less bitter

[@dannychenski687]

lol Did you predict the report that got filed around 10 or 11 months ago? Who was the first one who figured out about the excessive cadmium content and how??

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

ConsumerLab has been reporting about this problem since 2014. Here is a link to our first news release about it: www.consumerlab.com/news/cocoa-chocolate-contamination-flavanols/05-21-2014/. We've continued to test products and write about this concern for many years.

[@exoticspeedefy7916]

So is organic fair trade a better choice?

[@ConsumerlabPlus]

Unfortunately, not. Although more socially responsible, we have not found organic fair trade to correspond with lower cadmium levels. In fact, we have found the opposite.

[@exoticspeedefy7916]

@@ConsumerlabPlus The heavy metal is found in cereals and vegetables as well. Smokers also absorb substantial amounts of cadmium from tobacco-up to half the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization. Compared to our everyday uptake of cadmium with daily food, a treat with a piece of dark chocolate or 1 cacao drink is no problem surely

[@Jay-yy7uk]

@@exoticspeedefy7916 Bla bla bla, you just want to justify your indulgence. Go ahead do what you want, you don't need to explain yourself. You are an adult. But don't try to act like the expert, when the doctor gave you a clear answer.

[@exoticspeedefy7916]

@@Jay-yy7uk Bla bla what i "justify" has nothing to do with indulgence but common sense and understanding. It's not about being an expert or what you know, it's how you know. A Dr is only an expert in the medical field.. you think he's anymore of an expert than you or me this is not medical science

[@TheRealRealOK]

@@Jay-yy7uk 🤣

[@greendsnow]

don't eat chocolate.

[@mnmartin73]

or eat White chocolate

[@pauladdae3130]

Some brands have lower amounts of lead and cadmium and hence are better choices. Such as some dark chocolate products from: Ghirardelli, Mast, Taza and Valrhona (Abinao 85%). These are not easy to get in the UK though, apart from the latter. Not sure about Hu or Montezuma. However, both have published details stating that the levels in their products are acceptable according to EU standards - yet those levels are still very high. The bog standard dark chocolates in the large supermarket chains may have larger amounts.