A US judge dismissed most of a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s alleging that their dark chocolate bars contained harmful levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium. The judge stated that the consumers in the proposed class action failed to show that the chocolate posed an unreasonable safety hazard or was unfit to eat. While the lack of a warning label may mislead consumers, it was not proven that the levels of heavy metals in Trader Joe’s products posed a human health risk.
The judge dismissed five claims brought by shoppers nationwide, including violations of California consumer protection laws and an implied warranty that the chocolate was safe to eat. However, the plaintiffs were given the opportunity to amend their complaint. Claims brought on behalf of shoppers in Illinois, New York, and Washington can proceed under their respective state laws.
Consumers sued several chocolate sellers after a Consumer Reports study found potentially harmful levels of lead, cadmium, or both in dark chocolate bars for those who consumed more than one ounce a day. These metals can naturally occur in soil and long-term exposure can lead to various health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Other companies, including Godiva, Hershey, Lindt, and Mars, the maker of Dove chocolate, were also sued over their dark chocolate products.
The case against Trader Joe’s combined five lawsuits involving 17 law firms and alleged undisclosed levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in eight dark chocolate bars. The lawsuits cited the Consumer Reports study and independent laboratory testing. Additionally, Trader Joe’s and other implicated chocolate companies did not respond to immediate requests for comments on the matter.
Ultimately, the judge ruled in favor of Trader Joe’s in most aspects of the lawsuit, stating that while the lack of label warnings may be misleading, it was not proven that the levels of heavy metals in the chocolate posed a significant health risk. Consumers may have the opportunity to amend their complaint and pursue the case further in certain states under their respective laws. The issue of heavy metals in chocolate products continues to be a concern for consumers and a topic of legal action against various chocolate sellers.
