Tag Archives: Chocolate

CR : Lead + Cadmium High In Many Dark Chocolate!

Consumer Reports just tested 28 dark chocolate bars, and found that 23 of them had high levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium!

 

Consumer Reports : Lead + Cadmium High In Many Dark Chocolate!

Dark chocolate has always been considered as a healthier alternative to milk chocolate, and other sweet treats; because they are lower in sugar and have more antioxidants. Unfortunately, dark chocolate is made with more cocoa solids, which is where the heavy metals like lead and cadmium reside.

Long-term exposure to lead and cadmium is bad for health, particularly for pregnant women and young children, because these heavy metals can affect brain development.

Consumer Report scientists tested 28 dark chocolate bars for lead and cadmium, and compared them to California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL):

  • Lead : 0.5 micrograms
  • Cadmium : 4.2 micrograms

Out of the 28 dark chocolate bars they tested, only five were found to have lead and cadmium levels below the California MADL limit.

Eight chocolate bars were found to have overly high cadmium levels, while ten had overly high lead levels. The last five were the worst – with high lead and cadmium levels.

 

Levels Of Lead + Cadmium In 28 Dark Chocolate Bars

In the follow tables, the dark chocolate bars are listed in the order of lead level, because that heavy metal poses the greater health risk – no amount is considered safe.

Safer Choices

Brand Name Lead
(MADL %)
Cadmium
(MADL %)
Mast Organic Dark Chocolate
80% Cocoa
14% 40%
Taza
Chocolate
Organic Deliciously
Dark Chocolate
70% Cocoa
33% 74%
Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate
86% Cocoa
36% 39%
Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate
Twilight Delight
72% Cocoa
61% 96%
Valrhona Abinao Dark Chocolate
85% Cocoa
63% 73%

High In Cadmium

Brand Name Lead
(MADL %)
Cadmium
(MADL %)
Beyond Good Organic Pure
Dark Chocolate
70% Cocoa
42% 112%
Beyond Good Organic Pure
Dark Chocolate
80% Cocoa
42% 138%
Equal Exchange Organic Extra
Dark Chocolate
80% Cocoa
45% 120%
Lindt Excellence
Dark Chocolate
70% Cocoa
48% 116%
Scharffen
Berger
Extra Dark
Chocolate
82% Cocoa
49% 136%
Alter Eco Organic Dark
Chocolate
Classic Blackout
85% Cocoa
49% 204%
Pascha Organic
Very Dark
Chocolate
85% Cocoa
68% 253%
Dove Promises Deeper
Dark Chocolate
70% Cocoa
74% 112%

High In Lead

Brand Name Lead
(MADL %)
Cadmium
(MADL %)
Tony’s Chocolonely
Dark
Chocolate
70% Cocoa
134% 28%
Lily’s Extra Dark
Chocolate
70% Cocoa
144% 42%
Godiva Signature
Dark Chocolate
72% Cocoa
146% 25%
Chocolove Strong
Dark
Chocolate
70% Cocoa
152% 60%
Lindt Excellence
Dark Chocolate
85% Cocoa
166% 80%
Endangered
Species
Bold + Silky
Dark Chocolate
72% Cocoa
181% 31%
Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate
72% Cocoa
192% 36%
Hu Organic Simple
Dark Chocolate
70% Cocoa
210% 56%
Chocolove Extreme
Dark
Chocolate
88% Cocoa
240% 83%
Hershey’s Special Dark
Mildly Sweet
Chocolate
265% 30%

High In Lead + Cadmium

Brand Name Lead
(MADL %)
Cadmium
(MADL %)
Theo Organic
Pure Dark
70% Cocoa
120% 142%
Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate
Lover’s Chocolate
85% Cocoa
127% 229%
Theo Organic Extra Pure
Dark Chocolate
85% Cocoa
140% 189%
Lily’s Extremely Dark
Chocolate
85% Cocoa
143% 101%
Green
&
Black’s
Organic Dark
Chocolate
70% Cocoa
143% 181%

 

How To Safely Consume Dark Chocolate

Even though the results are shocking, I should point out that the California MADL levels are considered particularly stringent, and occasional consumption of these chocolates are unlikely to lead to immediate harm.

These heavy metals are also present in many nutritious foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach, and no one is going to tell you to stop eating them.

Ideally, try to select dark chocolate with low levels of lead and cadmium. But if there’s no way to find out, you should be consumed them only occasionally.

You can also select dark chocolate with lower percentages of cocoa, or switch to milk chocolate which has lower cocoa content.

Do note that organic dark chocolate are not safer than regular dark chocolate. They are just as likely to have high levels of heavy metals as regular dark chocolate.

If possible, pregnant women should limit their consumption of dark chocolate, and it’s best to reduce or limit the amount of dark chocolate given to children.

Finally, milk chocolate and cocoa products, including Milo, chocolate desserts and cakes, all have cocoa content. Reducing their consumption will help to reduce your consumption of heavy metals.

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Can Caffeine, Theophylline, Theobromine Cure COVID-19?

Can methylxanthines like caffeine, theophylline and theobromine cure or prevent COVID-19?

Take a look at the evergreen claim, and find out what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : Caffeine, Theophylline, Theobromine Prevents COVID-19!

This “Breaking News from CNN” is going viral on WhatsApp, claiming that Theophylline, Theobromine and Methylxanthine can cure or prevent COVID-19!

Breaking News from CNN :-

Documented casefiles for research purposes had in the case files a proposed cure that would significantly decrease the impact of the COVID – 19 Virus on the human body. The chemical Methylxanthine, Theobromine and Theophylline stimulate compounds that can ward off these virus in a human with atleast an average immune system.

Whats more shocking is that these complex words that were so difficult for people in China to understand is actually called COFFEE * in India, YES, our regular COFFEE has all these chemicals already in it.

The main Methylxanthine in COFFEE is the stimulant caffeine. Other Methylxanthines found in COFFEE are two chemically similar compounds, Theobromine and Theophylline. The COFFEE plant creates these chemicals as a way to ward off insects and other animals.

Who would have known that all the solution to these virus would be a simple cup of COFFEE and that is the reason so many patients in China are being cured. The hospital staff in china has started serving COFFEE to the patients 3 times a day, And the effect is finally in *Wuhan “The centre of this Pandemic” has been contained and community transmission has almost stopped.

Please Share this message to your friends and family to make them aware about this blessing in the form of COFFEE in your kitchen. DRINK MORE COFFEE

Forwarded as received.

 

Truth : Caffeine, Theophylline, Theobrominee Cannot Cure COVID-19!

The truth is – this is an updated version of the coffee can cure and prevent COVID-19 fake news from 2020.

The fake news creator removed references to Dr. Li Wenliang and attributes the discovery to “documented casefiles for research purposes“.

Here are the facts, and reasons why this is nothing more than another example of COVID-19 fake news…

Fact #1 : There Is No Such CNN News Report

A quick check of the CNN website and Google reveals that there is no such CNN news report, claiming that caffeine, theophylline and theobromine can cure or prevent COVID-19.

There is certainly no CNN report on the Chinese using coffee to cure or prevent COVID-19 infections.

Fact #2 : Methylxanthines Are Found In Chocolate, Coffee & Tea

Methylxanthines (or methylated xanthines) are a group of chemicals which include caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. They are found not only in tea, but also chocolate and coffee.

Theophylline is predominant in tea, while theobromine is abundant in chocolate, and caffeine is the main methylxanthine in coffee.

If methylxanthines can really prevent COVID-19, why didn’t the writer suggest eating chocolate and drinking both coffee and tea for maximum effect?

Fact #3 : China Consumes More Coffee Than India

The Chinese may not drink as much coffee as they do tea, but it is really racist to say that unlike Indians, the Chinese do not know that coffee contains those compounds.

In 2019, the 1.43 billion Chinese population consumed US$8.2 BILLION worth of coffee, while the 1.37 billion Indian population consumed only US$903 MILLION worth of coffee.

In other words, the Chinese consume 8.7X more coffee per capita than the Indians. Could that suggest they are probably more aware of its health benefits?

Fact #4 : Caffeine, Theophylline, Theobromine Cannot Cure Or Prevent COVID-19

If caffeine, theophylline and theobromine can prevent COVID-19, countries with high coffee consumption would see far fewer cases.

Yet the top 5 consumers of coffee in the world – Iceland, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland – have over 4.5 million COVID-19 infections as of 22 October 2021, while China only has just over 96,700 infections.

Those 5 countries have a population of only 42 million, while China has 34X more people – 1.43 billion of them!

In other words, drinking coffee appears to make people 1584X more likely to get infected by COVID-19!

Of course, we are not so silly as to make that claim, because correlation does NOT mean causation!

But what we can say is that statistically, drinking coffee does not appear to help cure or prevent COVID-19.

Fact #5 : COVID-19 Vaccines Prevent COVID-19!

As of 22 October 2021, monoclonal antibodies can treat early COVID-19, while dexamethasone can reduce mortality in severe COVID-19.

Fortunately, we now have several vaccines that can prevent COVID-19, including :

So the best way to protect yourself isn’t to drink coffee, but to take an approved COVID-19 vaccine ASAP!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Kinder Joy : Does Its Wax Coating Cause Cancer?

Is it true that the wax coating of Kinder Joy chocolate candy can cause cancer?

Take a look at the viral health alert, and find out what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : Kinder Joy Wax Coating Causes Cancer!

Several variations of this health alert about the wax coating of Kinder Joy causing cancer have been circulating since 2014. Here is one example :

“Kinder Joy contains wax coating which is also used in styrofoam containers. That is why Kinder Joy don’t stick to each other when eating it.

Our body needs up to two days to clean the wax. Make sure you stop eating Kinder Joy. This wax can cause CANCER. Share if you care.

 

Kinder Joy : Does Its Wax Coating Cause Cancer?

Is there any truth to these claims? Let’s break down the claims to easily digestible portions, and find out what’s true and what’s false…

Claim #1 : Styrofoam containers use a wax coating
Verdict : False

Styrofoam, which is a type of polystyrene foam, is hydrophobic. That means it naturally repels water.

Styrofoam containers therefore do NOT require a wax coating. Only paper cups and food containers require a wax or polyethylene coating to make them waterproof.

Claim #2 : The same wax coating is used in Kinder Joy
Verdict : False

Since styrofoam containers do not use any wax coating, this claim is automatically FALSE.

But let’s just find out if wax is even used in Kinder Joy. Here is the list of ingredients used in Kinder Joy (in descending order of content) :

Sugar, Palmolein, Skimmed Cow Milk Powder (19.5%), Palm Oil, Low Fat Cocoa Powder (4%), Wheat Flour, Edible Vegetable Fat, Toasted Wheat Germ, Wheat Starch, Powdered Barley Malt Extract, Emulsifier (Lecithin – INS 322), Whey Powder, Sunflower Seed Oil (High Oleic Acid), Raising Agents (INS 503ii, INS 500ii), Salt.

No wax, of any kind, is listed as an ingredient but it is possible that paraffin wax may be an unlisted additive.

Claim #3 : The wax coating prevents Kinder Joy from sticking to each other
Verdict : False

Paraffin wax, as well as other kinds of food-grade waxes, are commonly added to chocolates, candy, hard cheeses and baked goods to ensure that they remain solid at room temperature and/or to give them a shine.

Claim #4 : Our body needs up to two days to “clean the wax”
Verdict : False

Paraffin wax, as well as other kinds of food-grade waxes, are inert and indigestible.

That means whatever wax you consume will not be absorbed or change its form or chemistry.

It will just pass right through your gastrointestinal tract and get excreted in your poop.

Claim #5 : The wax coating causes cancer
Verdict : False

Food-grade waxes have been used as food preservatives and additives for thousands of years.

The most likely target of this warning is paraffin wax, which is commonly sold as baker’s wax or canning wax and have been used as a food additive since the 1930s.

There is one way paraffin wax can potentially cause cancer, but it’s not by ingestion.

A South Carolina State University experiment showed that burning paraffin wax candles for 5-6 hours in an enclosed space can produce significant amounts of harmful and potentially carcinogenic chemicals, including formaldehyde.

 

Verdict : Kinder Joy Cancer Claim Is 100% FALSE!

In conclusion, Kinder Joy does not have a wax coating. And food-grade waxes of any kind do not cause cancer.

In fact, we would like to point out that many natural health stores and “experts” are advocating the use of natural waxes, as opposed to “chemicals” in baking, etc.

This warning is yet another of many fake warnings about “dangerous additives” in our food circulating on the Internet.

It preys on our fear of the unknown additives in processed food. As they say – you only fear what you don’t know.

But now we know that this is nothing but a bunch of baloney. Make sure you SPREAD the knowledge by SHARING this article with your family and friends!

 

Help Support My Work!

If you would like to support my work, you can do so via bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card.

Name : Adrian Wong

Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)

Thank you in advanced! ❤️

 

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