Trader Joe’s is facing a lawsuit over potentially harmful levels of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate sold by the supermarket chain.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Central Islip, New York. The plaintiff is Thomas Ferrante, a consumer who accuses the company of deceiving and endangering buyers by selling dark chocolate with harmful levels of heavy metals, specifically lead and cadmium.
The proposed Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit came a week after the same four law firms filed a lawsuit on the same grounds against the Hershey Co.
The lawsuits against Hershey Co. and Trader Joe’s come after Consumer Reports revealed test results for different brands of dark chocolate bars.
The scientists measured various heavy metals in 28 bars of dark chocolate from various brands, including the smallest and most familiar. In their analysis they found cadmium and lead in all of them.
Consumer Reports found dangerous heavy metals in chocolate from Hershey’s, Theo’s, Trader Joe’s and other popular brands.
The report notes that “for 23 of the bars, eating just one ounce a day would put an adult above a level that public health authorities and CR experts say may be harmful for at least one of those heavy metals.” ”.
Based on Consumer Reports analysis, Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa was found to be high in lead and Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate 85% Cocoa was found to be high in lead and cadmium.
Costumer Reports points to five chocolate bars with high levels for both cadmium and lead. These include: Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% Cocoa; Lily’s Extremely Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (property of Hershey’s); Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate 85% Cocoa; Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa; and Theo Organic Extra Dark Pure Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa.
The Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s plaintiffs live in Nassau County, New York. Both lawsuits are seeking at least $5 million in damages.
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