Is heavy metal contamination in chocolate a real risk?
Yes. Heavy metals like arsenic and lead in some foods and products are worth actively reducing in your diet.
What's actually in it
Heavy metals like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury occur naturally in soil and water. They enter food through contaminated soil, irrigation water, and food processing.
Some foods concentrate heavy metals more than others. Rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water. Leafy greens accumulate cadmium. Some spices have been found to contain lead from contaminated growing regions or processing.
What the research says
A 2026 study in ecotoxicol environ saf found that nicotinamide mononucleotide rescues perinatal arsenic-induced autism-like behaviours via modulation of NAD+ metabolism in mice..
Lu Q(1), Tian C(1), Li L(1), Liu X(1), Liu J(1), He Y(1), Zhang A(2).
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotinamide mononucleotide rescues perinatal arsenic-induced autism-like behaviours via modulation of NAD+ metabolism in mice. | Ecotoxicol Environ Saf | 2026 |
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