Cadmium in Chocolate: Our Transparency Statement

Dear Customers,

You may have recently seen or heard reports about the possible presence of cadmium in cocoa and chocolate. In keeping with our values, we wanted to provide you with a clear and transparent update on the quality of our organic chocolates.

What is cadmium, and how does it end up in cocoa?

Cadmium is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment (soil, water, air). It is found in particularly high concentrations in certain volcanic soils (especially in Latin America).

The cacao tree, like many plants, naturally absorbs nutrients and minerals from the soil. That is why all chocolate, whether organic or conventional, may contain traces of them.

Why does organic chocolate help limit cadmium exposure?

Intensive farming and conventional agriculture exacerbate the presence of this metal. In fact, the main source of cadmium added to the soil is phosphate-based mineral fertilizers. According to ADEME, more than half of the cadmium entering agricultural soils is linked to these chemical fertilizers.

By choosingorganic farming and sustainable agroforestry practices (without deforestation, unlike what is often seen in intensive agriculture), we strictly avoid the use of chemical fertilizers. This significantly reduces the amount of cadmium entering the soil and, consequently, our cocoa beans.

Cadmium in Our Daily Diet

It is important to know that cadmium is found in many everyday foods: fruits, vegetables, grains, and durum wheat (pasta). In fact, grain-based products contribute more to overall exposure—especially among children—due to the large quantities consumed. That is why health authorities emphasize the importance of a varied and balanced diet.

What is the cadmium content in Jean-Claude Berton chocolates?

To ensure that you receive healthy, high-quality chocolate, we carefully select our producers and partner regions in the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Brazil.

Our regular inspections and the analyses we conduct show that our products fall well below European regulatory limits:

The complete results of our laboratory analyses are available in the attachments (or can be downloaded here).

Our Commitment to Healthy, Natural Chocolate

In addition to strictly monitoring heavy metals, all of our fine chocolates and our Omegachoco® line are:

• Certified organic (no chemical fertilizers or pesticides),

• No lecithin, no additives, and no added flavors.

In conclusion: Treat yourself with confidence

Eat a varied diet, choose high-quality organic products, and enjoy your chocolate with peace of mind: that’s what matters most. You can continue to safely enjoy Omegachoco® (which has 10 nutritional claims, including “rich in omega-3”) as well as our fine chocolates.

Yours in chocolate,

Jean-Claude Berton and his entire team.