The well-being of our consumers is always at the forefront of our minds, and we have rigorous processes and testing in place to ensure the safest (and most delicious!) possible product for you.

Cadmium and lead can be found in the soil in regions where cacao is grown, and may enter cacao via the tree’s roots (cadmium) or by adhering to the shells of cacao beans during fermentation (lead)1.

We recently resubmitted our highest percent cacao products for testing at a lab, and we’re happy to report that they all fall far under the daily standards for lead and cadmium set forth by the FDA2, EU3, and Codex Alimentarius Commission4. These bars can be used as a baseline for the remainder of our product offerings, as they have the highest cacao content.

While we have full trust in these standards, if you would prefer to adhere to those set forth by California’s Prop 655, you can also view those below.

If you are concerned about your heavy metal intake, it’s important to evaluate your entire diet - foods like cereal, rice, fish, roots, mushrooms, etc. can also be sources of heavy metals.

Please see the recommended amount you should consume to adhere to each set of standards6:

¹ SOURCE

² The FDA (Food and Drug Administration)is the United States’ centralized federal system for food regulation, inspection and examination. The FDA is accountable for the majority of food products in the country.

³ For the 27 European countries in the EU, the food standards laws are all streamlined into one governing body: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA is responsible for EU food safety regulations and standards; mandatory for all the member countries.

⁴ Codex Alimentarius is a joint inter-governmental FAO/WHO food standards program with over 170 member countries (including the US).  Codex Alimentarius standards are based off internationally accepted scientific and technological standards, and the goal of Codex Alimentarius is to develop international food standards, guidelines and recommendations to protect the health of consumers and to ensure fair practices in the food trade.

⁵ Prop65 is a California law adopted by direct voter initiative in 1986 as a “Safe Drinking Water” measure to address concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. It is officially known as the Safe Drinking water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Prop65 requires warning labels on packages of “listed chemicals” when they exceed “Maximum Allowable Dose Limits” or MADL provided by the law for more than 1,000 chemicals, many of which include natural minerals found in soil.

⁶ FDA, EU and Codex standards are based on a per oz basis