Swiss chocolate company Lindt is in controversy over allegations that high levels of heavy metals were found in its chocolate bars. It recently admitted that its chocolate contained traces of lead and cadmium.

According to court documents obtained by Nexstar, Lindt acknowledged that “lead and cadmium are unavoidable in the food supply.” The company says the trace amounts present in its products are within regulatory limits and do not qualify as a significant safety violation.

Lindt further clarified that terms like “expertly crafted” are merely promotional language or “puffery” and should not be interpreted as a guarantee.

In 2023 a class action lawsuit was filed against the company Lindt & Sprüngli by American consumers who accused the chocolate maker that its products that were “expertly crafted with the finest ingredients” were merely “puffery” – A legal term describing exaggerated marketing claims that no reasonable consumer would take at face value.

According to news agency AFP, they also accused the company of violating labeling rules in states such as Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada and New York, and of asking people to pay a premium price for a non-premium product. Said.

This happened when Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization, released its study on chemicals in dark chocolate in 2022. It found that Lindt’s Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% cocoa contained high levels of lead, and its Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa contained cadmium.

The study, while it also involved other brands, led to a class action lawsuit against Lindt.

According to Consumer Reports, chronic and long-term exposure to certain amounts of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can cause a variety of health problems.

How do heavy metals affect your health?

Heavy metals are known to affect brain development, lower IQ in young children, and cause developmental problems for pregnant women.

In adults, repeated exposure to lead can cause nervous system problems, high blood pressure, immune system suppression, kidney damage, and reproductive problems. Although most people don’t eat chocolate every day, those who eat chocolate frequently may have higher exposure to lead and cadmium, an NGO study suggests.

According to the report, Lindt’s Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa contained 116% cadmium and 48% lead, while Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% cocoa contained 166% lead and 80% cadmium.

One study showed that lifetime exposure to cadmium can lead to its accumulation in the kidneys, resulting in kidney damage.

While regular foods like sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots also contain heavy metals, small amounts from many sources can increase dangerous levels of heavy metals in the body.

Some ways to reduce the risk of heavy metals in the body include choosing chocolate with the lowest levels of lead and cadmium. “The risk comes from consistent intake over time. Heavy metals also occur in some other foods, including many that are more nutritious and important to eat as a regular part of a healthy diet, such as That’s carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. So it’s best to eat dark chocolate occasionally, according to the study.

Researchers recommended a lower cocoa percentage. Although not a foolproof solution, tests showed that cadmium levels increase with the percentage of cocoa.

She advised not to give children too much dark chocolate and not to assume that organic chocolates are better. “They were likely to contain the same levels of heavy metals as other products,” the study noted.