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 more widely recognized for their ability to take 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. Our results consistently demonstrate compliance with:
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U.S. federal requirements
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California Proposition 65 settlement levels for chocolate and cocoa products
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European Union standards
The current California Prop 65 settlement 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 |
Our products test within these levels. For example, recent third-party results show:
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High Flavanol Cocoa Dynamics (12.6% flavanol): Lead ≤ 0.0481 ppm, Cadmium ≤ 0.763 ppm
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Rainforest Red Cocoa Powder: Lead ≤ 0.0718 ppm, Cadmium ≤ 0.150 ppm
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Red Polyphenol Cocoa Powder: Lead ≤ 0.0718 ppm, Cadmium ≤ 0.150 ppm
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Flavanol Dark Chocolate (62% cocoa solids): Lead ≤ 0.0190 ppm, Cadmium ≤ 0.215 ppm
Important Context
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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.
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Independent testing may show different results due to differences in methodology, lab equipment, or sampling. For this reason, comparisons across third-party reports should be made with caution.
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Staying below recognized legal thresholds ensures products do not require Prop 65 warning labels and remain compliant with state, federal, and EU regulations.
Our Approach
Our mission is to balance safety, flavor, and health benefits. We work closely with our suppliers to:
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Select cacao sources carefully to help reduce heavy metal uptake.
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Avoid fillers or shortcuts that dilute nutritional value.
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Prioritize high flavanol and polyphenol content while maintaining compliance with global safety standards.
Reference Study
For additional scientific reading on balancing heavy metals in chocolate production, see:
Strategies for Balancing Heavy Metals and Quality in Chocolate Production – U.S. National Library of Medicine (NCBI)
Disclaimer: Trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals are present in all agricultural products, including cocoa. Santa Barbara Chocolate monitors and tests our products to ensure compliance with recognized legal standards. Results represent typical findings but may vary by batch.
