This is not related to your current post, but I've been buying Taza Wicked Dark organic stone ground chocolate, as I saw you recommending it, but I've been seeing studies recently showing that organic dark chocolate is even more contaminated with lead and cadmium than non-organic, although they didn't really know why. This is puzzling and concerning!
Never a bad time to discuss Dark Chocolate. Yes, I do enjoy Taza 95%, esp the ginger. My understanding is that it's low in lead and cadmium. I'm not a chocolate doctor though... ;)... have references you'd like me to review?
Mind you, ConsumerLab's independent testing (subscription site so I can't copy the Results table) had Taza on the Not Approved list for the levels of cadmium and lead they detected.
This is the response when I asked Taza about it. I think we can continue to enjoy our Taza, Nick 😋. My daily "dose" is a square, not a whole bar anyway. I'll have to check out the ginger!
"Thanks for reaching out! Heavy metals in chocolate is a subject that has been much in the headlines recently due an independent study published by Consumer Reports .
Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are naturally-occurring elements found in the Earth’s crust. Since these elements are present naturally in the soil and water where plants are grown, there are unavoidable traces occurring in virtually all foods, including fish, meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. More information about these levels in everyday foods is available in the FDA Total Diet Study (TDS)https://www.fda.gov/food/science-research-food/fda-total-diet-study-tds. Like these other foods, cocoa beans, one of the main ingredients in chocolate, may also contain small amounts of heavy metals depending on the natural conditions in which it is grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Union, and the World Health Organization have determined that tiny traces of naturally occurring heavy metals in foods are unavoidable and present no public health risk below certain levels.
We take quality control measures to monitor and minimize heavy metal content to the lowest levels currently feasible. Our certified organic cacao beans are laboratory tested for both cadmium and lead content. Every time we work with a new group of cocoa suppliers we test for cadmium and lead to ensure the levels meet our rigorous standards. We share our quality and food safety program documentation and testing with the relevant regulatory governing agencies and do not publish them publicly.
We are so pleased to have been identified as one of the top 5 safer choices in Consumer Reports independent testing of cadmium and lead levels in dark chocolate! It is important to note that the MADL of 4.1 mcg/day for cadmium as defined by Prop 65 is one thousandth the No Observable Effect Limit (NOEL) and that "Exposure at a level 1,000 times greater than the MADL is expected to have no observable effect." (Source: Prop 65)
We source from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Ghana and use a blend of these origins for all our chocolate at Taza. As mentioned in the interview Consumer Reports conducted with our founder Alex, mixing beans from different origins helps ensure the final product has lower heavy metal levels. More information about our sourcing partners and practices can be found here. As bean-to-bar chocolate makers, we control all processing steps of the cacao at our factory. These steps affect everything from flavor intensity to texture to heavy metal content. Additionally, since we don't use co-packers, we are able to maintain our own rigorous procedures.
For more information on heavy metal content in chocolate specifically I've found this Uncommon Cacao https://www.uncommoncacao.com/blogs/uncommon-cacao/a-light-overview-of-heavy-metals-a-cadmium-storyarticle to be a great resource! I hope this information is helpful. If you're ever in the Somerville area, stop by our Factory Store to say hi! Our tour guides are ready to provide samples and chocolate themed conversations, we'd love to see you. Take care and be well."
As an active young girl, I too could eat whatever I wanted & maintained a slightly underweight physique. Now in my mid 60s, I’m faced with many of the conditions that could have been prevented by altering my diet. Yes, both parents worked & maintained a busy life but I don’t see that as an excuse. They & I were taught by the commercials/ads that this junk was “healthy“. The education that you provide me now along with a few others trained individuals helps me to have a more balanced discussion with my grandchildren- planting a seed & not a box of Cocoa Puffs. I don’t subscribe to the celebrity endorsements, I subscribe to your educational posts.
This is kind of you. Although we may be at different life stages, it sounds like we have similar health arcs - to some extent. You don't understand until it hits you, right? Hopefully we can change that. Perhaps - long shot - these football stars would be open to a conversation around metabolic health. They can use their celebrity for good. I believe they have positive intent. Thanks for your comment and for sharing.
Great post! I can’t wait to dig into the videos.
Thank you David. Let me know if you like them. Feedback (positive and/or constructive) always appreciated.
This is not related to your current post, but I've been buying Taza Wicked Dark organic stone ground chocolate, as I saw you recommending it, but I've been seeing studies recently showing that organic dark chocolate is even more contaminated with lead and cadmium than non-organic, although they didn't really know why. This is puzzling and concerning!
Never a bad time to discuss Dark Chocolate. Yes, I do enjoy Taza 95%, esp the ginger. My understanding is that it's low in lead and cadmium. I'm not a chocolate doctor though... ;)... have references you'd like me to review?
Mind you, ConsumerLab's independent testing (subscription site so I can't copy the Results table) had Taza on the Not Approved list for the levels of cadmium and lead they detected.
This is the response when I asked Taza about it. I think we can continue to enjoy our Taza, Nick 😋. My daily "dose" is a square, not a whole bar anyway. I'll have to check out the ginger!
"Thanks for reaching out! Heavy metals in chocolate is a subject that has been much in the headlines recently due an independent study published by Consumer Reports .
Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium are naturally-occurring elements found in the Earth’s crust. Since these elements are present naturally in the soil and water where plants are grown, there are unavoidable traces occurring in virtually all foods, including fish, meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. More information about these levels in everyday foods is available in the FDA Total Diet Study (TDS)https://www.fda.gov/food/science-research-food/fda-total-diet-study-tds. Like these other foods, cocoa beans, one of the main ingredients in chocolate, may also contain small amounts of heavy metals depending on the natural conditions in which it is grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Union, and the World Health Organization have determined that tiny traces of naturally occurring heavy metals in foods are unavoidable and present no public health risk below certain levels.
We take quality control measures to monitor and minimize heavy metal content to the lowest levels currently feasible. Our certified organic cacao beans are laboratory tested for both cadmium and lead content. Every time we work with a new group of cocoa suppliers we test for cadmium and lead to ensure the levels meet our rigorous standards. We share our quality and food safety program documentation and testing with the relevant regulatory governing agencies and do not publish them publicly.
We are so pleased to have been identified as one of the top 5 safer choices in Consumer Reports independent testing of cadmium and lead levels in dark chocolate! It is important to note that the MADL of 4.1 mcg/day for cadmium as defined by Prop 65 is one thousandth the No Observable Effect Limit (NOEL) and that "Exposure at a level 1,000 times greater than the MADL is expected to have no observable effect." (Source: Prop 65)
We source from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Ghana and use a blend of these origins for all our chocolate at Taza. As mentioned in the interview Consumer Reports conducted with our founder Alex, mixing beans from different origins helps ensure the final product has lower heavy metal levels. More information about our sourcing partners and practices can be found here. As bean-to-bar chocolate makers, we control all processing steps of the cacao at our factory. These steps affect everything from flavor intensity to texture to heavy metal content. Additionally, since we don't use co-packers, we are able to maintain our own rigorous procedures.
For more information on heavy metal content in chocolate specifically I've found this Uncommon Cacao https://www.uncommoncacao.com/blogs/uncommon-cacao/a-light-overview-of-heavy-metals-a-cadmium-storyarticle to be a great resource! I hope this information is helpful. If you're ever in the Somerville area, stop by our Factory Store to say hi! Our tour guides are ready to provide samples and chocolate themed conversations, we'd love to see you. Take care and be well."
As an active young girl, I too could eat whatever I wanted & maintained a slightly underweight physique. Now in my mid 60s, I’m faced with many of the conditions that could have been prevented by altering my diet. Yes, both parents worked & maintained a busy life but I don’t see that as an excuse. They & I were taught by the commercials/ads that this junk was “healthy“. The education that you provide me now along with a few others trained individuals helps me to have a more balanced discussion with my grandchildren- planting a seed & not a box of Cocoa Puffs. I don’t subscribe to the celebrity endorsements, I subscribe to your educational posts.
This is kind of you. Although we may be at different life stages, it sounds like we have similar health arcs - to some extent. You don't understand until it hits you, right? Hopefully we can change that. Perhaps - long shot - these football stars would be open to a conversation around metabolic health. They can use their celebrity for good. I believe they have positive intent. Thanks for your comment and for sharing.