SAN ANTONIO — Most of us love to eat chocolate, whether it is milk chocolate, dark, or mixed with other foods. But in tonight's Verify, we learn there may be something in your chocolate bar that you could surprise you.
THE QUESTION
Are there really heavy metals including lead in some dark chocolate?
THE SOURCES
- Osteopathic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola
- A study ran by George Washington University.
THE ANSWER
TRUE
WHAT WE FOUND
Dr. Mercola says there certainly are some metals in dark chocolate, but only in very small amounts that aren't harmful to most people. including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and even mercury.
"If you're in a risk group like a pregnant woman, a child or someone with serious health problems, it could be a problem. Especially if eating a lot," said Mercola.
George Washington University's study looked at over 70 dark chocolate products from several retailers like Whole Foods, Amazon and GNC. They found 43% of the chocolate tested studied exceeded acceptable levels of lead and 35% exceeded cadmium levels. That is based on a California law setting maximum allowable dose levels for heavy metals in food.
Dr. Mercola says if you eat a lot of chocolate the vegetable oils are actually more dangerous than the metals.
"But the problem is that the average person is eating 10 to 20 times the amount they need, and that could cause serious problems. And may decrease our ability to our resiliency and increase the likelihood of acquired diseases," said Mercola.
So yes, it is true. There are heavy metals, including lead, in some dark chocolate.
Most doctors recommend only having a one ounce serving of dark chocolate a day, or two ounces every other day.