The danger of ‘lead’ in dark chocolate and cocoa
Pesticides and heavy metal residues in produced agricultural products threaten human life.
When items of burned trash are not destroyed by burning, they fall to the ground or are produced through the air.
A similar study was carried out in Turkey last month, after studies conducted abroad found lead in some of the dark chocolates.
A product sold on the market as 60 percent dark chocolate was tested by a private laboratory and lead was found in the product.
400 MICROGRAMS OF LEAD
Ali Manavoğlu, head of the Antalya branch of the Chamber of Food Engineers, said the lead value should be examined in products using chocolate and cocoa.
“In an analysis, the level of lead in dark chocolate was 400 micrograms,” Manavoğlu said. Heavy metals can cause carcinogenic, mental and psychological consequences in the body.
LEAD AMOUNT EXCEEDED ABOUT 200 TIMES THE LIMIT VALUE
Manavoğlu said that lead is a heavy metal that can cause many negativities and diseases.
Manavoğlu said: “It causes developing children to experience very serious neuropsychological problems in the future. When we look at the explanation of the study conducted last month, heavy metal analysis is carried out on randomly selected 60 percent dark chocolate. About 400 micrograms of lead are detected in chocolate. The World Health Organization establishes that the amount of lead in the blood is approximately 2.2 micrograms.
Emphasizing that a study on lead in products using chocolate and cocoa has not yet been conducted in the country, Manavoğlu continued as follows:
“With the inspections carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, cocoa beans and cocoa products from abroad must be analyzed and the results must be seen. In the study, the amount of lead in the chocolate was very high.
It is not desirable for children after 2.2 micrograms in the body. However, analysis revealed 400 micrograms in dark chocolate. A detection close to 200 times the limit value was carried out”.
‘MARKET SAMPLES NEED TO BE DETECTED THROUGH SAMPLE COLLECTION’
Stating that heavy metals cannot be destroyed by burning, Manavoğlu said, “Public institutions and laboratories should collect samples from the market and determine the lead level with solid and hard work. After that, you have to look for solutions, ”he said.
“It’s wrong to say, ‘Let’s not eat any more dark chocolate.’ Manavoğlu said that lead is formed by environmental pollution in the region where cocoa beans are grown: “This is an element, it cannot be destroyed by burning it. Since it is a heavy metal, it will leach out of the air and mix with the product or with the land.
AFFECTS MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING IQ LEVEL
Stating that consumers are more helpless in these matters, Manavoğlu said:
“Heavy metals can have carcinogenic, mental and psychological consequences in the body. It can cause problems that can affect a person’s mental development and even their IQ level.
The manufacturer must choose well the drugs to be used and the location of the production area. Heavy metal residues may exist in products made at points of intense vehicular traffic.
The consumer needs to wash the products they buy very well. Unwashed produce may contain pesticide residues and heavy metals that can occur due to environmental contamination. (DHA)