Tag: Chocolate safety

According to a 2022 investigation by Consumer Reports, certain Hershey's dark chocolate products, including Hershey's Special Dark and Lily's brand dark chocolates, contained elevated levels of lead. The presence of lead and cadmium, though in trace amounts, in these products has prompted concern among consumers and led to class-action lawsuits against the company. This issue stems from environmental contamination and processing practices within the cocoa industry.

According to Consumer Reports, tests of numerous dark chocolate bars have revealed potentially harmful levels of lead and cadmium. This guide explores which chocolates don't have heavy metals, why this contamination occurs, and how consumers can make more informed choices when satisfying their sweet cravings.

In early 2025, Tony's Chocolonely recalled certain chocolate bars due to the potential presence of small stones, prompting many consumers to ask: "Is Tony's Chocolonely safe to eat?". This latest incident follows earlier reports regarding heavy metals and persistent ethical questions surrounding the chocolate industry at large.

Over 1% of the U.S. population has celiac disease, requiring them to avoid gluten completely. This makes understanding hidden gluten sources crucial, especially for treats like chocolate, leaving many to wonder, 'Does pure chocolate have gluten?'.

According to a Consumer Reports study, most dark chocolate bars contain detectable amounts of lead and cadmium. However, not all brands or products pose the same level of risk, and recent tests have identified several Ghirardelli varieties with relatively low levels of these heavy metals.

In 2022, a Consumer Reports study detected lead and cadmium in many dark chocolate products, including Tony's Chocolonely's 70% bar. These heavy metals occur naturally in soil and are absorbed by cocoa plants, raising concerns among consumers.

While cacao plants do not absorb lead from the soil, studies have documented the presence of lead in cacao beans, which primarily happens through external, post-harvest contamination. Environmental dust and soil particles adhere to the beans as they are dried outdoors.

According to Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus, many of their products contain nuts, and all products may contain traces due to shared production facilities. So, for those with nut allergies, the question "Does Belgian chocolate have nuts in it?" requires careful consideration, as the answer varies significantly between products.

According to a 2024 study published in the journal *Frontiers in Nutrition*, potentially concerning levels of heavy metals, specifically lead and cadmium, were found in many dark chocolate products. These elements, often called "bad metals," can enter the cocoa supply chain through both natural environmental factors and processing methods, posing a risk to consumers, especially children and pregnant individuals.

According to reports from testing in 2025, a Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut chocolate bar was found to contain detectable levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic. The question of whether Cadbury chocolate has lead in it is part of a larger, ongoing conversation about heavy metals in chocolate products across the industry.