Of the 48 products tested, 16 revealed potentially harmful levels of these heavy metals.
Products from Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Nestle, and Starbucks, were among those identified as having an excessive metal content. Hershey, one of the leading chocolate manufacturers, was singled out by the report. More than 75 thousand consumers have signed a petition urging the company to reduce heavy metals in their chocolate.
Consumers, especially pregnant women, and young children, are warned of possible health risks from long-term exposure, including nervous system problems, suppressed immune function, and kidney damage. Despite the FDA’s stance that chocolate is only a “minor source of exposure” to these metals, consumer reports says that manufacturers should still prioritize food safety.
