Chocolate Lead Contamination Update
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.30.06
Ever savor a sweet ending to a customer service adventure? See how this strikes you. We TreeHuggers have been big fans of Dagoba. We aren't the only ones: beloved chocolate expert David Lebovitz today features a fun interview with founder Frederick Schilling about what it means to be an organic pioneer in the delicious but fickle world. Last April we let you know about Dagoba's lead-fueled recall. I was eating the likely contaminated stuff in typical fiendish fashion around the time a toxic metals test showed that I could morph into a pipe without much effort even without a Wonder Twin asking me to. Chocolate seemed the most likely source of my metallic woes. So, how did one of our favorite companies respond when I asked it to compensate me for lead-removing chelations?
Though I definitely had to jump through hoops and wait long intervals between responses, in the end Dagoba agreed to reimburse me for the cost of the treatments I was able to receive before leaving for lead-saturated Russia. In order to receive around $400, I provided a copy of my metals test and receipts from my doctor visits. A Dagoba representative then contacted my physician to confirm that the intravenous treatments for which I requested reimbursement were for lead rather than mercury. I asked to be compensated for my time researching the issue, going to appointments, etc., but no dice.
My reimbursement included the three chelations I received before departing (as well as an oral chelating agent) because in Russia leaded gasoline is still widely used, and any post-trip chelations would have likely been removing Russian lead as well as chocolate lead. Under other circumstances, Dagoba would have been responsible for a long course of intravenous fun fests. It's not yet clear how many I will need to undergo.
On the one hand, it seems fairly clear that a company's negligence put me at risk and $400 seems like measly recompense. On the other, it's understandable that at a small cooperative in a cacao-growing region an accidental exposure could occur. After all, I'm fortunate to live in a country where leaded gasoline has been phased out, and to be among a privileged population that (for the most part) doesn't have to worry about paint chips. While I didn't have to join a class action suit or challenge Dagoba on my own, I was lucky in that the test had been performed just after I ate the bulk of the chocolate and my evidence was strong. Also, I write for TreeHugger! With luck, non-bloggers' concerns have been met with the same level of responsiveness.
With the good tasting fair trade and organic chocolate selection remaining fairly thin, I'm still eating my fave Dagoba bars. What do you think? How chalky or robust you find its response? And, again, read David's interview for a well-rounded Dagoba perspective. ::
Thanks for the updated, Kyeann. How has your health been lately?
i think it's sad and a little opportunistic that you expected dagoba to pay anything. it chills responsible companies like them into not revealing info like this in the future. did dagoba add the heavy metals to their chocolate or did the metals merely get transferred from the environment? why not force the source to pay? too much work? did you have your levels checked prior to consuming the chocolate and again afterwards to prove any effect whatsoever? and how big of a deal is it really when you're going to voluntarily expose yourself to more lead poisoning?
I'm glad I saw this, I never heard about this!
I too have been tested for off the charts lead after experiencing lead poisoning symtoms around the holidays. I had no idea where the lead came from, as nothing in my lifestyle had changed.
This article explains it.
I had bought 6 boxes of Dagoba (72 bars) for myself and my family members for the holidays. We all ate at least a bar a day (including my young nieces and nephews). I sometimes ate two or three bars a day. (After all, they're good for you, right?)
I bought the Dagoba bars from an on-line health food merchant on Amazon.com. I received NO NOTIFICATION, no email, post card or phone call notifying me about the lead problem. This would be easy enough to do with a list of buyers from their database, and Dagoba should have insisted the word gets out in every way possible instead of hoping it just blows over.
Dagoba deflected the seriousness of the problem. After reading the FDA list of Dagoba contaminated products and manufacturing dates I am certain they are at fault and I am paying serious health consequences as a result.
(BTW, my Dr. advised against chelation saying it does more harm than good; perhaps he is too conservative, I think I need to another opinion).
The thing that REALLY sucks is now I have to tell my whole family I poisoned them with lead and that they should be tested. I just hope my young nephews and nieces aren't permanately affected. This is a bummer.
Paranoid a little? What would lead you to get a heavy metal test? Hypochondriac maybe? If you think the chocolate bars did it to you, why are you still eating them? Go eat some other companies.
overly "priveleged"
jilted citizen
Your names say it all.
Bitter and clueless. Hostile human beings.
Not really. I feel for the guy, especially Dave. His post clarified how and why someone would get a heavy metal test. I still question why you would continue to support a company you are complaining about on a blog.
"What would lead you to get a heavy metal test?"
Kyeann got the test because she was showing symptoms of lead poisoning afaik.
Please try to be more considerate and don't jump to conclusions about people you don't know.
And if food companies don't have some responsbility to check that the food they sell is safe, then who does?
"what the... " how about responding to the points made instead of attacking the person giving them?
pot. kettle. black...
To those wondering why one would go for a heavy metals test, it wasn't my idea, it was my Dr. who wanted me to take one.
If you have intense lead poisoning like I had, believe me, the symptoms aren't subtle. You know something is very wrong, and you should seek medical advice immediately, and seek to find and eliminate the cause of the poisoning.
Ironically, I specifically bought the Dagoba brand because I thought they would have testing measures in place to protect against contamination.
Suffering neurological damage of any kind or extent is serious business. I do think companies should be responsible for the products they sell. And it is FDA mandated law to monitor lead levels in chocolate, which implies the need for frequent lead testing to protect consumers.
Given that the contamination of Dagoba's chocolate went on for months before someone caught it doesn't speak well for their diligence re: contaminant testing, a very important thing to do when your source is a third world country where lead, pesticides and any number of other harmful substances aren't carefully controlled.
(BTW, health decisions are personal and individual decisions. Let's keep the accusations down and the tone a bit more supportive).
This makes me worry...
Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Dagoba Organic Chocolate Recalls "Eclipse 87%," "Los Rios 68%," And "Prima Matera 100%" Dark Chocolate Products Because of High Lead Levels
Contact:
Melissa Schweisguth
(541) 482-2001, xt 17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Ashland, OR -- March 31, 2006 -- Dagoba Organic Chocolate of Ashland, OR is recalling their "ECLIPSE 87%," "LOS RIOS 68%," and "PRIMA MATERA 100%" dark chocolate products in retail and bulk formats because they contain high levels of lead.
If a child or fetus is exposed to high lead levels on a routine basis (daily for a period of several weeks), permanent damage to the central nervous system can occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems. In addition, sustained consumption of products containing high lead levels can produce lead poisoning which has a number of symptoms including anemia, neurologic effects such as ataxia and irritability, constipation, muscular weakness, and chronic nephritis.
The products were distributed nationally through wholesale food distributors and through stores that sell organic, natural and/or specialty foods, as well as via select internet sites.
The six products are:
1) Dagoba Organic Eclipse 87% Extra Dark, Size: 2 oz bar
Lot Codes:
20061122,20061130,20061201,
20061206,20061213,20061214,2006
121920061227,20070103,20070116,20070130,
20070213,20070220,20070227,
20070306,20070313
2) Dagoba Organic Los Rios 68% - Ecuador Arriba, Size: 2 oz bar
Lot Codes:
20070213
20070223
20070323
3) Dagoba Organic Prima Materia 100% - Ecuador Arriba, Size: 2 lb brick
Lot Code:
20070109
4) Dagoba Organic Los Rios Choco Drops 68% - Ecuador Arriba Nacional, Size: 5 lb foil bag
Lot Code:
20070222
5) Dagoba Organic Los Rios 68% - Ecuador Arriba Nacional, Size: 25 lb bag
Lot Code:
310240498
6) Dagoba Organic "Eclipse Broken Bars" Forest Grown Organic Extra Dark Chocolate, Size: 1.5 lb bulk bags
Lot Codes:
All
No documented illnesses associated with these products have been reported to date.
The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the company which revealed that the finished products contained high levels of lead. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem. Dagoba Chocolate is committed to rectifying this issue and ensuring that it does not occur again.
Consumers who have purchased these products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers with questions are encouraged to visit the company's website at http://www.dagobachocolate.com/recall. They may also contact the company toll-free at 1-800-393-6075 or via email at recall@dagobachocolate.com.
Why doesn't anyone eat CAROB? (chocolate healthy alternative) It tastes great and is good for you!
"Why doesn't anyone eat CAROB? (chocolate healthy alternative) It tastes great and is good for you!"
Probably because they've never heard of it. I hadn't before now. I'll try to get my hands on some to see what it's like.
It's because Carob tastes like Carob. It doesn't replace chocolate at all.
Well, benjamin, the issue was only with one source of cacao used by Dagoba. Not ALL chocolate is implicated!
And carob is NOT a chocolate healthy alternative. It's carob. There is no chocolate alternative.
KPod, I'm with you. There is no chocolate substitute. I sort of live for it.
Dave, am sorry to hear about you and your family! Also am glad that you may have solved the contamination mystery.
My physician suggested the toxic metals test because some symptoms I was having seemed consistent with high mercury levels. Indeed, my merc was in the danger zone (apparently eating fish makes this almost a guarantee), but not nearly as high as the lead. Since we were chelating for mercury and the lead levels were so high, my physician was alarmed. Many of the effects of lead are mysterious. I have continued to have health problems, but it's difficult to know what's directly related to the contamination.
In response to the caustic comments, I'll just say that I believe companies should be responsible for the safety of their products, but I am responsible for choosing to live in a heavily polluted Russian city (and I recognize that the choice to be in a polluted or un-polluted area is a luxury). Regardless of how small or likable a company is, it should be held responsible for exposing customers to dangerous lead levels. I am convinced that my exposure through breathing leaded gas fumes over six weeks in St. Petersburg was much less than eating contaminated chocolate from my happy health food store almost daily for the same period of time in the US. However, it would have been difficult to parse out, and didn't seem fair to ask for them to reimburse me for post-travel treatments when it was so hazy.
I appreciate Dagoba's willingness to take responsibility. As soon as it was clear that I would receive reimbursement, I felt ok eating their goodies again.
I admire Frederick Schilling and Dagoba. Let's face it: most of the organic chocolate on the market isn't so yummy. Their bars are inventive and satisfying, and they make genuine environmental and fair trade strides.
Just thought I'd toss my two-cents in as a toxicologist...
Lead is not well absorbed by the intestinal tract, since it is not an essential metal. Generally, less than 5 to 10% of an ingested amount will be absorbed by an adult, slightly more in children. (Most scientists believe that is is absorbed through an iron transporter, and usually, most people who absorb significant amounts of lead are in fact iron deficient, one of the reasons it afflicts disadvantages individuals more.)
The maximum acceptable lead level for candy bars is set very low (.1 parts per million) in part because it is something children consume and they are uniquely vulnerable to lead poisoning because they absorb more, and it does more damage to a developing nervous system. So even if Dagoba had ten times the acceptable lead level (which is not likely) and you ate a really phenomenal amount, it would be unlikely to cause lead poisoning in a healthy adult. Not saying its impossible, though.
Inhaled lead, on the other hand, is much worse -- you generally will absorb about 30-50% into your bloodstream. So if you want to track down the source of your contamination, I would seriously look into any local smelters (they still bellow lead out into the environment), or travel in areas with unleaded gasoline as a more likely cause.
Sorry to be all science-geeky here.
Alex -- thanks for your input. In my case, my physician and I contemplated sources exhaustively, and I discussed sources with the San Francisco Health Department. My recent exposure to leaded gasoling was AFTER I took the toxic metals test, and it seems very unlikely that long ago exposure would have generated such high levels in January.
Last I knew, Dagoba was not releasing information about the levels of contamination. I did read about some independent testing that showed it being very high.
Actually, a past exposure of lead -- even long ago -- could result in current poisoning. One of the unfortunate things about lead as a toxicant is that it is not excreted. Indeed, lead can persist for years and is often deposited in the bones of individuals with high exposures (for example, workers in battery factories) and will often then re-enter the bloodstream when as they age and their bones demineralize.
It is very likely that one reason Dagoba didn't give exact numbers is because it is incredibly difficult to measure lead precisely at such low level. Often because of variations in sample purity, preparation, etc., you'll get ten fold variation. You really can't get accurate at the level of ppm, so the safety standards are set such that if to many of the readings cross the line, the product is recalled, which is what Dagoba claims happened. But you don't know what the actual amount was.
If it did exceed ten fold, at 1 ppm, one kilogram of chocolate would only have one milligram of lead, assuming an absorption level of 10%, would still result in a 10 microgram consumption -- usually, it takes at least 10 micrograms per decileter of blood to cause symptoms. So although this is not something you should be consuming by any means, I wouldn't think it would cause poisoning -- unless, of course, there were other exposures in the past, or something about your physiology that caused you to absorb lead in high amounts -- both of which are highly possible!
Unfortunately, for many ubiquitous environmental poisons like lead, tracing down a single source or reason why one person had high levels is really difficult -- one of the reasons toxicology doesn't translate very well into the world of either civil liability or regulations. It also makes it a challenging science!