Traces of lead and cadmium found in numerous brands of chocolate products sold in the United States. Consumer advocacy association As You Sow has released the troubling results of its latest survey.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
Traces of lead e cadmium found in numerous brands of products al chocolate for sale in the United States. Consumer advocacy association As You Sow has released the troubling results of its latest survey.
35% to 50% of tested chocolate products, including Easter eggs, are likely to expose consumers to the presence of lead and cadmium at higher levels than California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.
The tests commissioned by As You Sow were conducted by independent laboratories. The products examined contained lead and / or cadmium in quantities higher than the norm without reporting consumer warnings on the label, as required by law.
According to Eleanne Van Vliet, environment and health consultant for As You Sow, lead exposure is associated with learning difficulties and to one reduction of the IQ, even when it occurs at low levels, especially since there is no safety limit for children.
As You Sow has sent legal notices to chocolate producers involvedi, che includono: Trader Joe’s, Hershey’s, Green and Black’s, Lindt, Whole Foods, Kroger, Godiva, See’s Candies, Mars, Theo Chocolate, Equal Exchange, Ghirardelli e Earth Circle Organics.
Especially children and pregnant women should avoid lead exposure, in the opinion of experts. In addition, scientists studied cadmium exposure and linked it to damage to the kidneys, liver and bones in humans. Cadmium exposure could also be related to low birth weight, infertility and nervous system problems.
Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow, pointed out that lead and cadmium accumulate in the body and that it is essential to make sure that chocolate companies find a strategy to avoid the presence of these metals in their products. A few years ago the presence of cadmium and lead concerned Brazilian chocolate. The researchers speculated that in the case of Brazil the problem could be related to cocoa cultivation on contaminated land.
Find out here all the products and brands involved.
Marta Albè
Read also:
FOUND CADMIUM AND LEAD IN BRAZILIAN CHOCOLATE
SUGAR? TOXIC AND HARMFUL LIKE SMOKING AND ALCOHOL
HOW TO PURGE FROM HEAVY METALS: 10 FOODS AND NATURAL REMEDIES
