Cadmium content in the cocoa paste production process

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the cadmium (Cd) content present in cocoa beans collected from several farms in different cantons (Bolivar, Chone, Santa Ana and Tosagua) belonging to the province of Manabí, as well as to evaluate the cocoa paste and its cadmium incidence. This metal accumulates easily in cocoa beans, damaging human health and marketing and export possibilities; this led the European Union (EU) to approve Regulation N. 2021/1323 for processed cocoa products. The samples were subjected to analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace, the results showed maximum cadmium levels of 0.77mg/kg in cocoa beans, for the Nacional-Criollo variety; and minimum cadmium values of 0.51 mg/kg, in the same way in the cocoa paste maximum cadmium values of 0.69 mg/kg and minimum values of 0.44 mg/kg were found; considering that in none of the cases the permissible limit of 0.80 mg/kg established by the European Union was exceeded. An analysis of variance was carried out using Tukey's test with a probability of (p<0.05), and the data were entered into an InfoStad statistical program.