Heavy metals in dark chocolate get a lot of headlines. Here's a plain-English look at where they come from, what the UK allows, and how our cacao tested.
Is there cadmium in dark chocolate?
Usually, yes, in small amounts. Cacao trees take up cadmium naturally from the soil, so it ends up in the bean. Levels depend mostly on the soil and region, which is why the darker the chocolate, the more cocoa solids and the more cadmium it can carry.
Where does lead come from?
Lead is mostly picked up after harvest: dust and soil settling on beans while they ferment and dry. Careful handling and drying keep it low.
What is the UK limit for cadmium in chocolate?
Under retained Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (as amended by the Contaminants in Food (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019), the limit for chocolate with 50% or more total dry cocoa solids is 0.80 mg/kg. Cocoa powder sold to consumers is 0.60 mg/kg. The EU sets the same levels in Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
How did Sierra Cacao test?
An FDA-registered US lab tested our Sierra Nevada cacao in September 2026 using ICP-MS (USP <730>): cadmium 0.12 mg/kg, lead 0.012 mg/kg, arsenic and mercury below detection (<0.001 mg/kg). Total aerobic count, coliforms, E. coli, S. aureus, yeast and mould were all below 10 CFU/g, and no salmonella was found in 25 g.
Where is Sierra Cacao from?
It's grown in the jungle in Colombia's Sierra Nevada, hand-harvested by local farmers and Indigenous people, and hand processed at a co-op in the Sierra. Single origin and full-fat, with the cocoa butter kept in.
Try it for yourself.
Single-origin Pure Cacao from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. 11 sticks per pack, or a Month Supply of 33.