dark

Dark chocolate bars contain toxic metals linked to a number of health problems, despite often being described as the “healthier alternative” to regular types, says a recent report.

Tests of 28 bars of dark chocolate made by well-known brands, including Hershey’s, Lindt and Tony’s Chocolonely, all came back positive for lead and cadmium.

Heavy metals have been linked to lung problems, memory problems, cancer and even premature death, according to the British Daily Mail.

But experts say you’d have to eat more than one bar of chocolate a day to notice any effects.

Cadmium is a naturally occurring element found in the soil and is sometimes absorbed by plant roots and ends up in the cocoa beans. Lead pollutes the beans from the environment, probably when winds blow into surrounding areas where the beans dry out open.

Lead is known to be dangerous to humans, causing memory loss, abdominal pain and mood swings in adults after prolonged exposure.

For children, the heavy metal can damage the brain and central nervous system in high concentrations leading to learning and behavioral problems.