FDA Bans First FD&C Dye! Which Will be Next?

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The FDA has moved to finally ban Red Dye No. 3 from use in food and drugs in America.  Red Dye No. 3 was first determined to be a cancer causing color additive almost 30 years ago.  Studies conducted using labs rats found that they became inflicted with the disease after consuming large amounts of Red dye No. 3.  Thirty years ago, the FDA officially banned Red Dye No. 3 from use in cosmetics but left the door open for it to be used as a color additive in food and prescription drugs.  By January 2027, the FDA has ordered that Red Dye No 3 must be removed from all food in the USA and by 2028--from all drugs. Food Manufacturers Shiver in their Boots Red Dye No. 3 has mostly been used in baked goods, sweets and candies.  It is used by prominent candy manufacturers such as Mars Inc (Skittles) and Just Born Quality Confections (Peeps).  Food Manufacturing giants such as Con Agra, McCormick, Heinz, General Mills and Pepsi Co will all have to find alternatives for ...
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Dark Chocolate Contains Heavy Metals Cadmium and Lead

Dark chocolate has frequently been lauded by health fanatics for its numerous benefits.  It’s classified as a source of antioxidants and has been even said to help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  It's even been claimed to help with weight loss.



 
A  New York based non-profit named Consumer Reports tested heavy metal levels of 28 different brands of chocolate including Hershey’s, Godiva, Tony’s, Lindt, Endangered Species and Trader Joe’s.  Consumer Reports measured levels of cadmium and lead against standards set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).  According to OEHHA, human exposure to cadmium should not be more than 4.1 mcg per day and their exposure to lead should not be more than 0.5 mcg per day.

Many of the dark chocolate bars contained more lead than they should have.  Ten bars contained more than the OEHHA recommended level of lead while eight contained more than the recommended level for cadmium.  Hershey’s dark chocolate contained the highest level of lead.  It was 165% over the recommended level.  Chocolave, Hu and Endangered Species followed closely behind.  Pasha, Alter Ego and Beyond Good contained the highest levels of cadmium.  Trader Joe’s, Lily’s & Green & Blacks dark chocolate was included in the list of chocolates with the highest levels of both lead and cadmium.




Excessive exposure to lead can lead to brain damage, hearing problems, delayed growth, memory loss and abdominal pain.  Cadmium exposure can lead to diseases of the kidney, bones and cancer.  Consuming dark chocolate bars on a daily basis may not be the best choice for good health after all.  There isn’t a clear understanding why certain dark chocolate brands have higher levels of heavy metals than others but it could be attributed to the soil and industrial matter from emissions that happen to be near the chocolate manufacturing plants.  Soil contains cadmium and as a result, the cocoa beans may be absorbing the metals.  Since the tests were only completed on dark chocolate bars, it’s possible that these levels of heavy metals may extend to other chocolate containing products such as cereal and drink.

A man from Nassau County in New York is suing Hershey’s chocolate for 5 million dollars in a class action lawsuit stating that if he had known the content of metals in the bars, he would not have purchased them.  Trader Joe’s is also facing a class action lawsuit after failing to disclose the levels of metals inherent in their dark chocolates.

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