Concerns About Chocolate and Heavy Metals
At Santa Barbara Chocolate, we strive to provide high-quality chocolate with careful attention to safety, flavor, and responsible sourcing.
Naturally occurring elements such as cadmium and lead are present in all plants that grow in healthy soil, including cocoa.
These trace metals are natural constituents of the Earth’s crust and have been part of agriculture since its beginning.
Because of this, all natural agricultural products worldwide, from vegetables and fruits to nuts, seeds, coffee, and wine, contain some amount of heavy metals. Cocoa is no exception.
Why Heavy Metals Are Present in Cocoa
Trace amounts of lead and cadmium can be found in all cocoa beans.
While cacao trees do not need these metals for growth, small amounts are absorbed naturally from the soil.
Cacao trees are also known for taking up beneficial minerals such as magnesium, copper, and iron - part of why cocoa is regarded as a nutrient-rich food.
Testing and Legal Compliance
We test our couverture chocolate and cocoa powders through accredited, independent laboratories (including ISO-17025 certified facilities).
All testing confirms compliance with:
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U.S. federal food-safety requirements
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California Proposition 65 settlement reference levels for chocolate and cocoa products
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European Union standards for food safety and purity
For consumer awareness, California’s current Prop 65 settlement reference thresholds for chocolate and cocoa are:
| % Cacao | Lead (ppm) | Cadmium (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| < 65% | 0.065 | 0.320 |
| 65–95% | 0.100 | 0.400 |
| > 95% | 0.200 | 0.800 |
(These values are provided for general information and represent industry settlement reference levels — not specific Santa Barbara Chocolate test results.)
Our products are confirmed compliant within these recognized limits through ongoing independent testing.
Important Context
Trace metals cannot be completely eliminated from cocoa or other natural foods.
Levels may vary from batch to batch depending on soil, climate, and agricultural conditions.
Independent testing may show slightly different readings due to differences in methodology, lab equipment, or sampling.
For this reason, comparisons across third-party reports should be interpreted with care.
Santa Barbara Chocolate follows current U.S. and international food-safety standards and monitors results through ongoing independent testing.
Our Approach
Our mission is to balance safety, flavor, and natural nutrient value.
We work closely with our suppliers to:
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Select cacao origins with naturally lower heavy-metal uptake.
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Avoid fillers or shortcuts that dilute nutritional quality.
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Prioritize high flavanol and polyphenol content while maintaining compliance with global safety standards.
We believe chocolate should be both delicious and responsibly made. That’s why every Lot of Santa Barbara Chocolate is verified by accredited laboratories to meet recognized food-safety standards.
Disclaimer
Trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals are present in all agricultural products, including cocoa.
Santa Barbara Chocolate monitors and tests its products to ensure compliance with recognized legal standards.
All values represent typical findings within accepted safety ranges and may vary naturally by batch.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice.
