A very sad day for chocoholics!

[chief38]

My wife's "signature desert" over the past 30 years has been giant premium strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, then chilled. Everyone in our community always requests them when we go to their homes or when they come here - glad to accommodate their wishes as we love them as well.

Last night we found out that 23 out of 28 most popular dark chocolates contain lead and cadmium - NOT GOOD! That includes our beloved Hersey's Special Dark which actually contains one of the highest levels! Apparently there are some less dangerous brands, but they are very expensive at 2-3 times the cost. Not only that but they contain more Cacau which is good for you but more bitter on the pallet. I believe the Hershey's Special Dark is about 37% Cacau and the available ones that are less toxic are a minimum of 72% (more bitter).

So I guess we will have to get some and try it before making any major purchase. We normally go through about three to four 7.5 ounce bars a week for the covered strawberries.The safer ones are approximately $8.50 per two 3.5 ounce bars - or more than twice the price! Hmmmm..... can't even enjoy chocolate covered strawberries anymore!

 

[NYlakesider]

As a fellow chocolate connoisseur I sympathize with you and your wife!

 

[arjay]

Yikes! Does Lindt have them too?

 

[Rudi]

What was the source of this news?

 

[s&wchad]

... We normally go through about three to four 7.5 ounce bars a week for the covered strawberries...

You and the Mrs go through over 1.5#'s of dark chocolate a week?

Mrs Chad wants to come visit!

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

There was an article in Consumer Reports some months back reporting this issue. One of the worst was Trader Joe's.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Well, Chief, rain on my parade!! One of my ex-wives, had to be #2, used buy her chocolate, dark, mint, and milk, from a candy maker's wholesale supplier. I think it came in 3 or 5 lb. bags. She was kinda artistic, among other stuff.
Maybe if you have one of those places in your area you can get the ingredients. I wonder if the unleaded bags give you more pieces per bag? At one week from today I become 68 YO. I'm NOT giving up my semi-sweet, (or dark) chocolate just for a little lead or cadmium. Maybe this could be my dad's reason for grabbing my Trick- or-Treat bag and taking all the Hershey's semi-sweet chocolates from my bag! He loved me as he was taking all the good treats for my health. Well, too late to change now!

 

[JET4]

Check out Enjoy Life chocolate. Supposedly one with the least amount of heavy metals in them.

 

[soFlaNative]

Check out Enjoy Life chocolate. Supposedly one with the least amount of heavy metals in them.

Is this a recent development? i.e. less product with increased price while keeping the same volume?
Or have we been enjoying heavy metal all along?

 

[tlawler]

Well, Chief, rain on my parade!! One of my ex-wives, had to be #2, used buy her chocolate, dark, mint, and milk, from a candy maker's wholesale supplier. I think it came in 3 or 5 lb. bags. She was kinda artistic, among other stuff.
Maybe if you have one of those places in your area you can get the ingredients. I wonder if the unleaded bags give you more pieces per bag? At one week from today I become 68 YO. I'm NOT giving up my semi-sweet, (or dark)chocolate just for a little lead or cadmium. Maybe this could be my dad's reason for grabbing my Trick- or-Treat bag and taking all the Hershey's semi-sweet chocolates from my bag! He loved me as he was taking all the good treats for my health. Well, too late to change now!

Jeff, my thoughts as well…we've been exposed to so much stuff for so long in our trade that I'm not worried about a little Pb and Cd. I ain't giving up my dark chocolate!

 

[glowe]

At my age, these warnings are just an annoyance. Having lived through countless told and untold health warnings, I question the numbers. First, Cadmium safe numbers are close to zero. 4.1 micrograms might sound like a large number until you know what that equates to. Let's see - 4 micrograms is equivalent to .0000004 grams. How does someone measure that?? Lead safe limits are below 0.5 micrograms or .00000005 grams. In each case, if one wants English measurement, you will have to divide the above gram numbers by another 28.

Enjoy your chocolates and stop worrying about the California based warnings. Let's live on the wild side!!

 

[JET4]

Is this a recent development? i.e. less product with increased price while keeping the same volume?
Or have we been enjoying heavy metal all along?

My understanding is it's in all chocolate. Not sure why. Been in chocolate for a long time.

 

[lihpster]

My understanding is it's in all chocolate. Not sure why. Been in chocolate for a long time.

Gets absorbed by the plant. Cacao beans virtually all have trace amounts of lead and cadmium. We are talking about miniscule amounts in the chocolate. It's not the same as eating paint chips.

 

[dben002]

It's only money

and where we are all going money is worthless so if you enjoy it .. go for it .. Only live once ...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Did you say Trader Joe's?
I do like these little guys!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Vegas odds are that it won't be chocolate that takes my landing gear out.

 

[venomballistics]

The wife makes them on occasion.
It's either Dutch or Belgian chocolate dipped then rolled in turbanato sugar.
I married very well

 

[wood714]

My wife's "signature desert" over the past 30 years has been giant premium strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, then chilled.

Last night we found out that 23 out of 28 most popular dark chocolates contain lead and cadmium - NOT GOOD! T

If it ain't killed you in over 30 years of eating it, I'd not start sweating it now.

 

[Imissedagain]

My BIL trucking company delivered chocolate from the docks to the manufacturers all over the USA.
Hersheys was the bottom of the barrel as far a chocolate,
was his opinion.

 

[DEF3]

Piece of dark chocolate in one hand. And a nice lead wad cutter in the other. It's a well balanced diet.