The European Joint Research Center (JRC) has released a new Certified Reference Material (CRM) ERM-BD512 Dark Chocolate, supporting food authorities in ensuring chocolate is safe for consumption.
Background:
Chocolate and other sweetened cocoa
products used in cocoa beverages are frequently consumed by children and
adolescents and represent one of the main sources of cadmium exposure
for these age groups. Cadmium is known to cause kidney damage. The Joint
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives concluded that there is a
need to reduce exposure to cadmium at the population level, which
eventually led to establishing the new MRLs for cadmium in chocolate and
cocoa.
On 1 January 2018 a new amendment ((EC) No 488/2014) to Commission
regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 came into force establishing, among others,
new maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cadmium in chocolate and cocoa
products.
The new CRM:
To support monitoring of these MRLs in chocolate by food
authorities, the JRC has released a new Certified Reference Material
ERM-BD512 Dark Chocolate, certified for cadmium and three other trace
elements. This new CRM was produced from commercially available
chocolate, with cadmium content of about half of the new regulatory
limit. It will allow laboratories to control analytical measurements
made to ensure food safety.
Source: European Commission, JRC, Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials
Related EVISA information
Material database: ERM-BD512 Dark Chocolate
Material database: Foodstuffs
Link database: Human dietary cadmium exposure
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last time modified: September 22, 2024
