The Hershey Co. is being sued for allegedly failing to indicate lead and cadmium presence in several of its dark chocolate products, reports NPR.
The class action lawsuit comes two weeks after Consumer Reports tested dark chocolate bars from brands including Dove, Ghirardelli, and Hershey’s, finding heavy metal content that exceeds the maximum allowable dose in California. The following products from the company all failed Consumer Report's test: Hershey's Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate, Lily's Extra Dark Chocolate 70 percent Cocoa, and Lily's Extreme Dark Chocolate 85 percent Cocoa.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million from the chocolate brand since its heavy metal content was not disclosed.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association, which represents Hershey’s, said "The products cited in this study are in compliance with strict quality and safety requirements, and the levels provided to us by Consumer Reports testing are well under the limits established by our settlement [with As You Sow in 2018],” a group that advocates for California’s proposition 65 enforcement.
Significant exposure to cadmium and lead can harm people of all ages; however, a toxicologist from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Andrew Stolbach, told NPR that the heavy metal levels in the chocolate bars are not a cause for concern when consumed in moderation. Full Story
Related: Albertsons, Kroger Proposed Merger Raises Concerns; NYC Foie Gras Ban Found to Violate State Law