Incidence of cadmium content in chocolate

Abstract

Ecuadorian cocoa is well demanded in the foreign market for its flavor and aroma, however, due to the cadmium contaminants that exist, it generates a national concern to farmers and the cocoa industry for the existence of heavy metals in chocolate. Because these components are absorbed by cocoa almond, this metal can cause serious illness when it accumulates in the body and slowly deteriorates, Although it is known that from 2011 the European Community will begin to require maximum permissible levels of cadmium in cocoa and its derivatives, at international level, it is not clear what the true legal status of this contaminant in cocoa is,  Europe is an important market for cocoa and its derivatives, there are other destination countries for exports of these products, which are important for the Ecuadorian market. This article aims to review the legal status of cadmium as a contaminant of cocoa and its derivatives in some countries of the world, and the per capita consumption of chocolate in some of these countries, in order to reflect on whether the need for legislation on contaminants in food matrices depends on its prevalence in specific populations and on the importance of the human diet.