As bad as it sounds, some amount of lead is inevitable due to its presence in the environment (hence there having to be an "allowable limit"), and a little bit of online research suggests that at least some of the lead may be a natural result of the cocoa beans collecting dust while drying.
What IS interesting is the notion that different brands have radically different quantities (implying there's a lot more the worst offenders could be doing to reduce contamination) and that so many brands are over the allowable limit.
I expect that last bit will lead to a recall..
... I mean, it darn well better, considering I still remember a brand of peanut-butter flavored hot cocoa getting recalled because they -technically- didn't properly label their peanut product as containing peanut allergins in their peanuts XD.
Humans can be a dumb bunch. We are so sue happy that companies need to put silly things on their products because that one person could legally do something & sue them.
It's similar to buying a jar of nuts & says "contains nuts". SMH!
Now for the instant hot cocoa & lead, some is allowed, just like bug parts. I'd have to search this more.
Here's a quick search:
"The report, published Oct. 25, 2023, in Consumer Reports, found heavy metals ? lead and cadmium ? in chocolate chips, chocolate bars, brownie mix and hot cocoa from major retailers and specialty brands alike. Among the 48 products Consumer Reports tested, lead and cadmium were detected in every single one."
Well, to me, we've been consuming them for a long time. So why the reports now??
Hmm, maybe this is why some people just can't seem to get the lead out when they're traveling so slowly in the fast lane.... or walking around like they are lolly-gagging with no purpose! Too much hot cocoa consumption. And it will probably be these people left standing after the nukes drop. They're inherently protected from all that lead in their system!
