At Santa Barbara Chocolate, our commitment to quality includes careful sourcing, ingredient selection, and independent laboratory testing. We work with our suppliers to support the quality, flavor, and consistency of our chocolate and cocoa products.
Our Quality and Testing Program
We use accredited, independent laboratories to test selected raw materials and finished products, including testing for lead and cadmium.
Our quality review brings together:
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Independent laboratory results
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Supplier qualifications and quality documentation
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Product formulations and production records
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Applicable food-safety and labeling requirements
The type and frequency of testing may vary by product, ingredient source, and production run. We evaluate this information to support sourcing, product-quality, and labeling decisions.
Understanding Lead and Cadmium in Cocoa
Cocoa is an agricultural food. Lead and cadmium can be present in the environment and may occur in cocoa and other agricultural foods.
Levels in cocoa can vary with growing conditions, sourcing, handling, and processing. They may also differ between harvests and production lots. These variations are among the factors we consider in our sourcing and quality review.
California Proposition 65
California Proposition 65 establishes warning requirements for certain exposures to listed chemicals, including lead and cadmium. The presence of a listed chemical alone does not determine whether a warning is required.
Certain chocolate and cocoa products are also subject to court-approved Proposition 65 settlements. Whether a settlement and its warning thresholds apply depends on its terms and the products and businesses involved.
Santa Barbara Chocolate considers applicable food-safety requirements, Proposition 65 requirements, and relevant settlement provisions as part of its quality-assurance and labeling review. These evaluations take into account the particular product and applicable legal framework.
This statement provides general information about our quality program and regulatory approach.