Chocolate should be consumed in moderation in children, the fault of this heavy metal

Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas via AFP

Chocolate should be consumed in moderation in children, and this is the fault of cadmium pollution (illustration photo in April 2023 in a supermarket)

Food – Gourmands must be careful. Consequently, Chocolate contains a quantity “Not negligible” of cadmium. Therefore, heavy metal with harmful effects for health, warns the UFC-Que Choosing this Thursday, August 21. Consequently, The consumer defense association advocates “Moderate your consumption”especially in children.

According to her. Consequently, to taste two Bjorg filled cookies in the same day, a bowl of Chocapic and a cup of hot chocolate Poulain chocolate should consumed moderation children, brings to a 10 year old child “Almost half of the daily dose of cadmium” From which a health risk is possible. This metal accumulates in the body and exposes to an increased risk of cardiovascular pathologies and cancer.

Its reference toxicological value (VTR) has been set to « 0. 35 microgramme […] per kilogram of body weight per day » by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Labor Safety and Work (ANSES). Clearly, a 10 year old child who weighs around forty kilos can only consume 14 micrograms of cadmium (0.000014 gram).

In early June. liberal doctors had alerted to the massive contamination of the French – mainly children and women – with cadmium via phosphate fertilizers used in agriculture, which are found in particular in breakfast cereals, bread or potatoes. The cocoa products mentioned by the UFC-Que Choisir respect the maximum regulatory cadmium content.

chocolate should consumed moderation children,

A risk of “exceeding the tolerable daily dose” of cadmium – Chocolate should consumed moderation children,

But these results. obtained after an analysis carried out by an independent laboratory in 2022, do not mean that consumers cannot still “Going to the tolerable daily dose by consuming several products containing cadmium in the same day”explains the association at AFP, citing the example of a child who has eaten chocolate powder as well as cookies and cocoa cereals.

According to the survey. a portion of 50 grams of Bjorg cookies filled with dark chocolate represents 20 % of this reference toxicological value in a child, compared to 8 % for an adult. A share that reaches 11 % in children and 5 % in adults for a portion of 46 grams of Chocapic, or 17 % and 7 % and 7 % for 13.5 grams of chocolate powder powder large intense aroma chocolate should consumed moderation children, 70 % cocoa.

Confirmed contents at the association by Bjorg. by Carambar & Co, owner of the Poulain brand, Nestlé having indicated to AFP not adding cadmium but that it can be “Present in the state of traces in certain raw materials”. The UFC-Que Choisir also points out the even stronger presence of cadmium in organic chocolate. suggests favoring organic tablets “Whose beans are not imported from Latin America”because cadmium is very present naturally in certain production areas of this region.

ANSES indicated in early June to AFP that it should publish “At the end of the year” his current work aimed at assessing human exposure to cadmium. in order to define “Action levers to reduce the impregnation of the French population”.