The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has responded to the Consumer Reports study published earlier this week on levels of lead and cadmium in chocolate and cocoa.

“Chocolate and cocoa are safe to eat and can be enjoyed as treats as they have been for centuries,” NCA says. “Food safety and product quality remain our highest priorities, and we remain dedicated to being transparent and socially responsible.”

NCA cites its recent litigation in California and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) statement to CR as evidence that chocolate is okay.

“The Consumer Reports article findings disregard levels previously set by the Superior Court of the State of California, San Francisco County, California in 2018. The chocolate and cocoa industry was granted a Consent Judgment on February 14, 2018, which remains in effect,” according to NCA.

 “The judgment established concentration levels for both lead and cadmium that supersede the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Maximum Allowable Dose Levels for cocoa and chocolate products”

The Food and Drug Administration told CR that “While the presence of cadmium and lead in chocolate has been the subject of considerable media attention, experts from around the world have found that dark chocolate can be contaminated with lead and cadmium, two heavy metals linked to severe health problems, chocolate is a minor source of exposure to these contaminants internationally.” 

This week, CR released repeated testing results showing that dark chocolate could be contaminated with lead and cadmium, two heavy metals linked to severe health problems.