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Weeks after the publication of a Consumer Reports study that found high levels of heavy metals in Hershey’s dark chocolate products, a consumer filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he and many other buyers were cheated.
Christopher Lazazzaro, a resident of Nassau County, New York, said he would not have bought dark chocolate products sold by Hershey if it had been revealed. that the bars contained lead and cadmium.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Central Islip, New York.
To proceed legally against Hershey’s, Lazazzaro relied on the company’s presentation of its chocolate bars that contained only dark chocolate ingredients and were safe to eat, according to legal representation.
Instead, he bought and paid for more than he would have shelled out had he known.”the truth about the products“, the lawsuit states.
The study found that one ounce of Hershey’s slightly sweet special dark chocolate contained a 265% more lead than California allowsand Trader Joe’s dark chocolate 72% cocoa contained 192% more.
An analysis of 28 brands of dark chocolate
The lawsuit comes two weeks after Consumer Reports published research showing potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals in 28 dark chocolate brands, including Hershey’s, Godiva, Lindt, Trader Joe’s, and Scharffen Berger.
For 23 of the bars tested by the nonprofit’s scientists, consuming just one ounce a day would put an adult above the level of at least one of the metals that could be harmful to human.
Five of the bars were above those levels for both cadmium and lead.
Prolonged exposure to small amounts of heavy metals can cause brain development problems in young children. Although the risk to health in general is for people of any age.
Common conditions include nervous system problems, high blood pressure, immune system suppression, kidney damage, and reproductive problemsaccording to Tunde Akinleye, the Consumer Reports food safety researcher who led the test.
By contrast, dark chocolate has long been touted as a healthier option than milk chocolate and other sweets, and studies found that it contains antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease.
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