Is Viva Naturals Organic Cacao Powder Tested for Heavy Metals?

December 28, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Viva Naturals' Proposition 65 page, their food products are subject to heavy metal testing, including both internal and third-party validation. The company acknowledges that heavy metals like cadmium and lead are naturally present in the soil where cacao grows and are absorbed by the plant. This raises a critical question for consumers: is Viva Naturals organic cacao powder tested for heavy metals?

Quick Summary

Viva Naturals uses internal and third-party testing to ensure their organic cacao powder meets safety standards for heavy metals. Naturally occurring levels of cadmium and lead are monitored to fall below strict regulatory limits, including those from organizations like JECFA, the World Health Organization (WHO), and California's Proposition 65.

Key Points

Third-Party Tested: Viva Naturals confirms that their organic cacao powder undergoes third-party testing for heavy metals to meet safety standards.
Meets Regulatory Limits: Testing ensures levels are well below the maximum daily limits set by organizations like JECFA and meet stringent California Proposition 65 requirements.
Heavy Metals are Natural: Cadmium and lead can be naturally present in cacao due to absorption from the soil where the plant grows.
Post-Harvest Mitigation: Unlike cadmium from soil, lead contamination can happen during post-harvest handling, which Viva Naturals mitigates through careful processing.
High-Cocoa Products Concentrates Metals: Cacao powder, being concentrated solids from the cacao bean, contains higher levels of heavy metals than other chocolate products, making testing essential.
Transparency to Consumers: The company has historically been responsive to customer inquiries regarding test results and heavy metal content.

Understanding Heavy Metals in Cacao

Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can naturally accumulate in cacao beans. These elements are present in soil worldwide, and cacao plants absorb them as they grow. Because cacao powder is a concentrated form of the cacao bean's solids, it naturally contains higher levels of these minerals than other chocolate products. The potential presence of heavy metals has led to increased scrutiny and questions about the safety of cacao products from consumers. For health-conscious individuals, understanding a brand's testing and safety protocols is crucial.

The Viva Naturals Approach to Heavy Metal Testing

Viva Naturals openly addresses heavy metal concerns on its website, particularly regarding California's Proposition 65, which requires warnings for products containing certain chemicals. The company’s heavy metal testing process is thorough and multi-layered, as they state their products are tested both internally and by third-party organizations.

Batch Testing: They regularly test their cacao powder and other products to ensure compliance with safety standards. This helps to account for natural variations that can occur from batch to batch depending on factors like harvest and soil conditions.
Compliance with Global Standards: Viva Naturals explicitly states that their products meet or fall below the maximum daily limits set by regulatory bodies such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
Transparency: While they don't publicly post Certificates of Analysis (CoA) for individual batches, they have previously provided specific data to consumers upon request, such as on Amazon's Q&A forums. For instance, a decade ago, a company representative provided specific maximum thresholds for heavy metals in their cacao nibs.

Natural vs. Man-made Contamination

It's important to distinguish between the natural absorption of heavy metals by the plant and post-harvest contamination. Cadmium is typically absorbed from the soil, especially in regions with volcanic soil. Lead, however, is more often a result of external contamination during post-harvest processes, like drying the beans on the ground. A brand's sourcing and processing methods are therefore critical in mitigating these risks. Viva Naturals addresses this by ensuring their product adheres to strict safety limits, mitigating any potential risk from both natural and man-made sources.

How Regulatory Standards Compare

Regulatory guidelines for heavy metals vary significantly across different organizations and jurisdictions. California's Proposition 65 sets notoriously strict limits, often causing a product to carry a warning even if it's considered safe by federal standards. This can be confusing for consumers who don't understand the nuance of these different regulations.


Heavy Metal Regulation Comparison	Regulator	Cadmium Standard	Lead Standard	Viva Naturals Status	Notes
California Proposition 65	4.1 mcg/day MADL	0.5 mcg/day MADL	Meets stricter standards.	Considered very conservative; based on minimal risk levels.
JECFA (WHO/FAO)	65 mcg/day (for 65kg person)	Varies	Meets standards.	Widely accepted global standard; Viva Naturals mentions compliance.
FDA	Varies	Varies	Meets federal safety standards.	Less stringent than Prop 65; federal limits may differ by food type.

It is worth noting that a product triggering a Prop 65 warning is not necessarily unsafe, but rather indicates that its levels exceed a very low threshold. Viva Naturals’ emphasis on meeting not only federal but also Prop 65 standards demonstrates a commitment to exceeding baseline regulations.

Choosing a Safe Cacao Powder

Consumers can take several steps to ensure they are purchasing a safe product. Checking for certifications, reading about the company's testing policies, and considering brand transparency are all valuable actions. An organic certification, such as USDA Organic, indicates the product is grown and processed according to specific standards, but does not guarantee the absence of natural heavy metals. Therefore, relying on a company's commitment to heavy metal testing, like Viva Naturals' stated process, is key.

Mitigation and Health

Even with safe levels, the human body has its own detoxification processes to manage heavy metal exposure, and consuming a nutrient-rich diet can support these functions. Cacao itself is a source of beneficial minerals like magnesium, iron, and zinc, which can help the body absorb less lead. For individuals with specific health concerns, it is always recommended to consult a healthcare practitioner.

Conclusion

Yes, Viva Naturals organic cacao powder is tested for heavy metals both internally and by third-party laboratories to ensure it meets or surpasses established safety limits, including the strict standards of California's Proposition 65. While trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals are common in all cacao products, Viva Naturals proactively monitors and manages these levels, assuring that the product is safe for consumption. This commitment to rigorous testing provides consumers with confidence in the safety and quality of their organic cacao powder.

Viva Naturals' Proposition 65 disclosure: https://vivanaturals.com/pages/proposition-65

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Viva Naturals states that its organic cacao powder is safe for consumption. They rigorously test their products internally and with third-party labs to ensure heavy metal levels are well below safety standards set by the FDA, WHO, and California's Proposition 65.

Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are naturally occurring elements found in the earth's soil. Cacao plants absorb these minerals as they grow, meaning some level of heavy metals is naturally present in all cacao products.

Viva Naturals uses a unique blend of cacao beans, which are processed into powder in the Netherlands or Switzerland. The specific origin can vary, and they test to ensure consistency in meeting regulatory requirements.

While organic certification ensures farming practices avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, it does not guarantee the absence of naturally occurring heavy metals from the soil. That's why additional heavy metal testing is necessary.

The Prop 65 warning can be misleading as it uses extremely conservative thresholds. A product bearing this warning, like some cacao, is still considered safe by federal standards and global organizations like the WHO.

Compared to other foods that absorb heavy metals, the levels in cacao are often minimal. Other everyday foods like leafy greens, potatoes, and root vegetables can also contain detectable levels of heavy metals.

Cadmium is typically absorbed from the soil during the plant's growth, while lead contamination usually occurs post-harvest from environmental dust or improper handling.