Cadmium
Toxins · Heavy metal / nephrotoxicant
Moderate priority
Bottom line
Read Off Label rates Cadmium a MODERATE avoidance priority (5.3/10) based on strong evidence of moderate harm magnitude and low-moderate chronic exposure prevalence.
Consumer Reports 2022 dark chocolate testing found many brands exceed California Prop 65 cadmium thresholds — Mast, Scharffen Berger, Taza among higher; Ghirardelli and Mars were cleaner.
The intervention here is reducing exposure, not adding a compound.
What this is
Consumer Reports 2022 dark chocolate testing found many brands exceed California Prop 65 cadmium thresholds — Mast, Scharffen Berger, Taza among higher; Ghirardelli and Mars were cleaner. Tobacco smoke is an enormous source for smokers. Food is the major route for non-smokers; diversifying food sources limits exposure.
Mechanism
Industrial metal; accumulates in soil; food-chain bioaccumulation — leafy greens, root vegetables, shellfish, cocoa, some dark chocolate; tobacco smoke major source
Dose & route
Don't smoke; rotate chocolate sources (Consumer Reports dark chocolate testing 2022-2023); wash root vegetables
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21453641/
- https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7215521/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- How harmful is Cadmium?
- Cadmium is rated MODERATE avoidance priority (5.3/10) on the Read Off Label scale, derived from strong evidence of moderate harm magnitude and low-moderate chronic exposure prevalence.
- How does Cadmium cause harm?
- Industrial metal; accumulates in soil; food-chain bioaccumulation — leafy greens, root vegetables, shellfish, cocoa, some dark chocolate; tobacco smoke major source
- How do you reduce exposure to Cadmium?
- Consumer Reports 2022 dark chocolate testing found many brands exceed California Prop 65 cadmium thresholds — Mast, Scharffen Berger, Taza among higher; Ghirardelli and Mars were cleaner.
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.