"Consumer Reports Exposes High Levels of Lead and Cadmium in Hershey Chocolate, Calls for Immediate Action"

Consumer Reports has found "concerning" levels of lead and cadmium in a third of the chocolate products it recently tested, urging Hershey to reduce the amounts of heavy metals in its chocolate. The non-profit consumer group tested various chocolate products and found that 16 out of 48 contained potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium, or both. The products included dark chocolate bars and hot chocolate mixes from Walmart, cocoa powder from Hershey's and Droste, semi-sweet chocolate chips from Target, and hot chocolate mixes from Trader Joe's, Nestle, and Starbucks. Consumer Reports has stated that long-term exposure to these metals can lead to nervous system problems, immune system suppression, and kidney damage, with greater risks for pregnant women and young children. Hershey has previously expressed its commitment to reducing levels of lead and cadmium in its products.