this chocolateAccording to research by scientists from the University of Missouri, it is an undoubted source of pleasure and also hides harmful elements that are a significant nutritional contribution. that item cadmiumIt has long been known to be found in cocoa, but now more information and new data have been obtained about the . The problem is also economic, because Recent EU-imposed restrictions could jeopardize the future of thousands of small farms In the southern countries that provide this food.
Studies so far regarding the presence of cadmium in cocoa have yielded mixed results, but a new study conducted by the aforementioned university first of all analyzed soil factors that influence the transfer of cadmium from soil to cocoa. Beans. The aim of this research is to minimize such absorption through feasible and profitable procedures for farmers.
After analyzing thousands of data on cocoa crops worldwide from previous studies, the scientists said, “PH, which describes the total amount of cadmium in the soil and the amount of this element remaining in the cocoa bean.said Professor Andrew Margenot.
“It seems like a very simple explanation, but it’s consistent with soil chemistry theory. As more acidic pH values are reached, cadmium becomes more soluble and more usable by the plant,” he added.
This research comes into play when there are more reasons than ever to keep cadmium levels in these and other foods low.
EU reduces the amount allowed
The latest European Union regulations limit cadmium to amounts between 0.1 and 0.8 milligrams per kilo., depending on the cocoa product. Margento says the standard forces many companies to limit imports from cocoa-producing regions in the south, where soils are typically rich in heavy metals.
While the cadmium problem has been somewhat acknowledged, EU regulation is an economic threat to eight million small farmers Cocoa is an important crop for their livelihood.
Most of the cocoa produced comes from scaled-down farms.
“These farmers can make $1,000 a year if they’re lucky,” Margenot said. Reducing heavy metals is out of your reach”.
But there could be an easier and simpler solution to reducing the presence of this worrisome element of nature: “After discovering that the pH of the soil and the total amount of cadmium are the most important factors for the presence of this element in cocoa, they get evidence that lime can be a mitigation measure”, the teacher explained.
Lime soils reduce acidity, which makes cadmium less soluble and harder for plants to leach. But Margenot admits: Liming isn’t necessarily affordable or easy for Amazon farmers.given that lime is not a common product in that part of the world and is not usually available in stores.
Despite this challenge, scientists have found that lime generally increases cocoa yields and, given the benefits, may result in offsetting the extra costs this produces its use.
It all depends on the quantity received
However, the study’s authors caution that the presence of cadmium in chocolate can only be dangerous if consumed in large quantities. “I ate cocoa beans from farms in Ecuador without hesitation. It takes a lot of chocolate to reach dangerous levels for adults. I think it’s fair to say that people shouldn’t stop eating chocolate,” said Margenot.
In addition The danger is further reduced when milk chocolate is consumedHere, cocoa has a much smaller presence. But even in the case of dark chocolate with almost 100% cocoa, the risks are still small unless the amounts are taken regularly, he adds.
Reference work (in English): https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0261989
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