GREENSBORO, N.C. — Your common Halloween candy is fine. But Consumer Reports has made headlines in the past for finding toxic metals in dark chocolate bars.
Now CR is at it again, expanding its tests to 48 additional products in seven categories: dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, hot chocolate mixes, and brownie and cake mixes.
There are no federal limits for the amount of lead and cadmium most foods can contain, but one state does set its own limits on certain foods.
"CR’s scientists used California’s standard levels when measuring heavy metal content in chocolate to make our own assessments for consumers," said James Rogers, Consumer Reports Food Safety Scientist.
CHOCOLATE ITEMS THAT TESTED HIGHER IN LEAD AND OR CADMIUM
Two chocolate chips: Target's brand, Good & Gather semi-sweet chocolate chips & Hu dark chocolate gems
Two cocoa powders: Hershey's Cocoa Naturally Unsweetened 100% Cacao, Droste Cacao Powder
One brownie mix: Ghirardelli Premium Brownie Mix Double Chocolate
Two cake mixes: Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix- Chocolate Muffin & Cake, Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Four hot chocolate mixes: Trader Joe's Organic Hot Cocoa Mix, Starbucks Hot Cocoa Classic, Great Value (Walmart) Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix, Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix
"Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to quit chocolate cold turkey. But as with anything in life, moderation is key—consume chocolate as an occasional treat," Rogers said.
Consumer Reports asked the Food and Drug Administration whether it has plans to set limits for lead and cadmium in chocolate. The agency did not respond.