The rich chocolate flavor is just as delicious and appropriate in a decadent cup of hot chocolate as it is in your greens-packed morning superfood smoothie!Navitas Organics Cacao ⦠Image via Ulterior Epicure / Flickr. It started out of necessity. Cacao trees accumulate cadmium quite efficiently, so levels in beans and powder can be relatively high. Many chocolate brands contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium and lead. Cacao Powder is the nutrient rich extract of pure chocolate.It is made by milling the highest quality, organic heirloom cacao beans at low temperatures to ensure the integrity of its nutrition and flavor. Cadmium and Lead can be found, naturally occurring, in cocoa beans and cocoa bean shells. Lead exists in the Earthâs crust, but being natural does not stop it from being toxic to humans (and animals). "The [Food and Drug Association] and many states monitor the amount of cadmium and lead in food. If it's not in the soil naturally, it's accumulated from air pollution, waste water or fertilizers. The production preserves a significant proprotion of the nutritional value of the beans without any additives. Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids (especially flavan-3-ols), a subset of polyphenols.The amount of flavonoids depends on the amount of processing and manufacturing the cocoa powder undergoes. Children are more susceptible than adults to exposure from low doses of cadmium over time. It forces them to sell their beans to large wholesalers who produce cheap bulk goods, rather than high-quality chocolate. Cacao has been used medicinally for centuries with a long list of health benefits, including brain and heart health. Unlike traditional cocoa, Viva Naturals Cacao Powder is unprocessed, retaining important nutrients like magnesium, calcium, iron, fiber and protein. California Proposition 65 Statement. "According to Consumer Lab, the upper limit for cadmium is 0.3 mcg/gram (0.3 ppm). Hot chocolate with cacao powder recipe. Cacao powder sold to the final consumer or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder sold to the final consumer 0.60 For instance, from January 2019, a 100g bar of dark chocolate containing more than 50 percent cocoa solids must not have more than 0.08mg of cadmium. Ghana and Ivory Coast. "Cadmium is a probable carcinogen, can be toxic to kidneys, can cause softening of bones, and may affect fetal development" according to CL. In order to make our raw cacao powder, the finest cacao beans are selected and carefully processed to keep the nutrients and flavour. You have to decide between raw Cacao and Cacao powder without sugar. Cadmium can cause damage to the kidney, liver, and bones, while also impairing neurobehavioral development. However, Hersheyâs natural cocoa powder was found to be contaminated with cadmium which is a kidney toxin, although it was not alone in this respect: Every cocoa powder tested was found to be contaminated with cadmium and/or lead, another toxic heavy metal.Favorite Collections let you organize your favorite ATK content. You can add the powder to a smoothie to give it a chocolate milkshake-like flavor without the sugar or dairy. I'm tired of people with their supposedly "new" theories about organic food and how they may be contaminated - such as raw honey. Many companies that produce cacao powder do not bother to test the levels of Cadmium in their products. Page 2 of 2 - Low Cadmium Cocoa Powder? This product comes in a 16 oz. These beans are then roasted very gently using an innovative processing technique, which ensures the powder retains at least 2x more flavanols than regular cacao. So why do many chocolate brands contain lead and cadmium? While there are many benefits associated with eating chocolate, itâs hard to say whether youâd be getting the same benefits if your chocolate was tainted with toxic heavy metals lead and cadmium.. The high-flavanol powder in Aduna Super-Cacao is made from specially selected cacao beans that have been chosen because they have the highest naturally-occurring flavanol content. If you've ever read an article claiming "shocking news, chocolate is actually good for you," they are likely referring to cacao nibs, dark chocolate, or cacao powder. According to their website, Mamamuti cacao powder contains 0.4 part per million of cadmium. Unfortunately, this is the case for many popular brands we see on the market today (even âorganicâ brands). This study published on the FCCI website shows the relationship (or lack thereof) between cadmium levels in soil, fresh cacao, and fermented and dried beans. There is no cadmium in this product. The cadmium amount found in the cacao powder is 3x of that in the nibs. Besides, lead shows variation across geographical location. Unlike many cocoa powders, cacao powder has no added sugar while maintaining a rich chocolate taste. If you're drinking multiple cups of cocoa a week, or if you're baking (and eating) cupcakes or cookies packed with cocoa powder, cadmium is worth worrying about, Cooperman says. Heavy metals in soil can also be the result of industrial pollution. Cadmium contamination in cocoa beans can become a financial problem for smallholder cocoa growers, as they earn less money for their end product. Alkalization, also known as Dutch processing, causes its content of flavonoids to be substantially reduced.. Safety Cadmium content. Both our Raw Cacao Powder and Our Raw Cacao Nibs have been tested for heavy metals.