Most cocoa trees in the world are located in Latin America. According to the CDC, there are more traces of cadmium, a metal that can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even kidney disease. According to a new report in the Journal of Environmental Quality, a group of researchers from Ecuador and Belgium are looking for ways to reduce the cadmium content that eventually appears in cocoa beans.
"The cadmium problem threatens farmers' livelihood, because their products may not be suitable for trade, and some buyers prefer not to buy contaminated cocoa beans," said David Alger Rowe, a member of the research team. "In order to find effective mitigation strategies, we must understand how cocoa trees absorb this element."
They found that the typical method of removing cadmium from soil did not work for cocoa trees. This is because their roots are deep. Other plants, such as corn and sunflower, live closer to the surface. Between harvesting and planting, mixed soil will dig deeper soil layers. A common way to remove cadmium from soil is to add an element found in limestone, called lime for short. This lime (not a citrus fruit) helps prevent plants from absorbing cadmium. Soil mixing allows lime to reach all the soil layers it needs.
The soil around the roots of cacao trees cannot be mixed or treated with lime, because cacao trees are not replanted every year. In an experiment, scientists added lime to the surface and deep layers of soil in a greenhouse. The research team found less harmful metals in the leaves. Although successful, this process cannot be carried out on cocoa trees in the field. However, it opens the door for finding a permanent solution in the future.
At the same time, limiting your candy intake is the best way to avoid toxic ingredients in chocolate.