Do chocolate bars contain concerning levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium?

What's actually in it

Chocolate picks up heavy metals at every stage of its journey. Cacao trees absorb cadmium from tropical soils. Lead enters during drying, roasting, and processing when beans contact contaminated surfaces or equipment. By the time cacao becomes a chocolate bar, it can contain both metals.

Dark chocolate tends to have higher levels because it contains more cacao. But milk chocolate and cocoa powder aren't free of metals either.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Food Chem tested commercial chocolate bars from retail stores for several metals. The researchers found measurable lead and cadmium in many products and calculated health risk scores based on typical consumption.

For people who eat chocolate daily, especially dark chocolate, the cumulative dose could exceed safe intake levels set by health agencies. The risk was highest for cadmium, since cacao is one of the most cadmium-rich food crops grown.

Lead contamination varied more between brands and regions. Some brands had very low levels while others were much higher, suggesting that sourcing and processing methods make a big difference.

You don't need to give up chocolate. But if you eat it daily, choosing brands that test for heavy metals and publish results is worth the effort. Rotating between different brands and types can also spread out your exposure to any single source.