Introduction
Trader Joe’s, a popular grocery store chain, recently came under fire for selling chocolates that tested high in lead. The chocolates, which were sold in stores across the United States, were found to contain lead levels that exceeded the legal limit set by the Food and Drug Administration. This news has caused concern among customers and health experts alike, as lead is a known neurotoxin that can cause serious health problems. In this article, we will discuss the details of the situation, the potential health risks associated with consuming lead-tainted chocolates, and what Trader Joe’s is doing to address the issue.
Trader Joe’s Still Selling Chocolates That Tested High In Lead
Trader Joe’s is still selling chocolates that have tested high in lead, according to a recent report from the Center for Environmental Health. The report found that the chocolates contained lead levels that exceeded California’s legal limit.
The chocolates in question are Trader Joe’s Pound Plus 72% Dark Chocolate Bars, which were found to contain lead levels of 0.24 parts per million. California’s legal limit for lead in candy is 0.10 parts per million.
The Center for Environmental Health tested a variety of chocolate products from different retailers, including Trader Joe’s, and found that the Pound Plus 72% Dark Chocolate Bars had the highest lead levels. The organization is now calling on Trader Joe’s to remove the product from its shelves.
Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems, especially in children. It can damage the brain and nervous system, and can even lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause harm to the developing fetus.
Trader Joe’s has not yet responded to the report, but the Center for Environmental Health is urging the company to take action and remove the product from its shelves. In the meantime, consumers should be aware of the potential risks associated with consuming the Pound Plus 72% Dark Chocolate Bars.
Trader Joe’s takes a lot of pride in its many specialty products. “To earn a spot on our shelves, each product is submitted to a rigorous tasting panel process, in which every aspect of quality is investigated,” the company says on its website.
But a different kind of evaluation process recently challenged the quality of two of the retailer’s popular products.
An investigation by Consumer Reports last month discovered high levels of potentially harmful heavy metals—lead and cadmium—in 23 popular dark chocolate bars, including two sold by Trader Joe’s.
According to the report, Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Bar 85% Cacao tested high in both heavy metals, while Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao tested high in lead. “Consistent, long-term exposure to even small amounts of heavy metals can lead to a variety of health problems,” the report noted, adding that “eating just an ounce a day” is risky.
Trader Joe’s is now facing two separate federal class-action lawsuits as a result of the investigation: Ferrante v. Trader Joe’s Company and Herd v. Trader Joe’s Company. Both suits accuse the retailer of endangering customers by failing to disclose the presence of heavy metals on the products’ labels.
Given the serious nature of the report’s findings and the legal action that followed, I was surprised to find both dark chocolate bars still openly available for purchase at my local Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn, N.Y.
There were multiple stacks of the Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Bars, priced at $1.99 each, under a sign reading: “Perfect in homemade brownies!” Three-packs of the 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bars were similarly displayed nearby along the same shelf.
When I looked online, I could find no mention of either product on the company’s website, as if both items had been scrubbed from the inventory. Yet, in the store, they were readily available to anyone looking for a sweet treat. I visited the same location twice, in fact, on Jan. 12 and Jan. 20, and found both varieties both times.
Leaving these items on the shelves seems to contradict the company’s own food-safety policy, which states that “[w]hile there are aspects of our product supply-chain beyond our direct control, we will never leave to chance the safety of the products we offer. We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We take action quickly, aggressively investigating potential problems and removing product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality.”
Trader Joe’s did not respond to requests for comment.
The chain is not alone in its apparent disregard for the highly publicized report on heavy metals. I also found several other dark chocolate bars cited in the report at nearby retailers.
At my local Target, I spotted the Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa, which tested high in cadmium, and the Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, which tested high in lead, according to the report; each priced at $3.49.
Meanwhile, at my local Whole Foods, I noticed shelf tags for two varieties—Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao, which tested high in lead, and Beyond Good Organic Pure Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa, which tested high in cadmium, according to the report—but neither product on the actual shelf, suggesting they were either removed or simply sold out.
However, six others flagged by Consumer Reports were prominently displayed, including two Lily’s brand bars—Extremely Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, which tested high in both heavy metals, and Extra Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa, which tested high in lead, according to the report—each on sale for $3.49.
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Chris Shott