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Cocoa beans can absorb toxic heavy metals such as cadmium from the soil. In some cultivation areas, especially in South America, the soils are sometimes considerably contaminated with heavy metals.
In a recent study, cocoa beans were not only examined for their cadmium content, but the team of researchers was also interested in where the heavy metal had accumulated in the beans. To do this, the scientists at the TU Berlin and the used various X-ray fluorescence techniques.
They were able to show that cadmium accumulates in the shells and that roasting the beans changes the element distribution in the bean.
The results can provide indications for a possible optimisation of the processing procedures in order to reduce the heavy metal contamination of the cocoa and the chocolate made from it. The cocoa shells are processed into animal feed and fertiliser and must therefore also be tested for possible cadmium contamination before further processing.
YOUR PLUS: Our AGROLAB laboratory Dr. A.Verwey in Barendrecht near Rotterdam is also specialised in the quality testing of cocoa beans and of course also tests them for possible heavy metal contamination.
Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger
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