Cadmium
Toxins · Heavy metal / nephrotoxicant
Moderate exposure concern
Bottom line
Read Off Label rates Cadmium a MODERATE exposure concern (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.
This entry describes an exposure rather than an added intervention.
What the evidence says
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
Reported exposure / mitigation context
Tobacco smoke and some dark chocolate and contaminated soil or root vegetables are exposure sources; source rotation and washing can reduce exposure
Citations
A link means the source informed this entry; it does not mean every claim on the page comes from that source. If a citation looks wrong or you want a claim re-checked, send a correction.
Common questions
- How harmful is Cadmium?
- Cadmium is rated MODERATE exposure concern (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
- What exposure context is reported for 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.