![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/1-Superfoods-logo-1-300x213.jpg\"){kind=logo}
In October 2018, a supporting retailerasked the TOPIC team to meet and discuss with a concerned consumer about heavy metal content in various Superfoods products.<\/p>\n\n\n
In October 2018, a supporting retailer
asked the TOPIC team to meet and discuss with a concerned consumer about heavy metal content in various Superfoods products.<\/p>\n\n\n
The consumer’s story<\/strong> It is to be noted that other consumers with heavy metal toxicity have also come forward to query the heavy metal levels in Superfoods\u2019 products.<\/p>\n Response from Superfoods<\/strong> \u201cIn the case of superfoods the potential tiny amount present is far outweighed by their fantastic nutritional profiles. So no, I am not going to put on our boxes “like any natural food may contain traces of metals”. <\/em><\/p>\n I suggest you look into other exposure sources in your life as your metal issues certainly did not come from our fine products<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n After an initial meeting at Organic Zone, TOPIC contacted Superfoods who were very transparent and shared with us lab results and invoices for the three products discussed, namely Organic Goji Berries, Organic Chia Seeds and Organic Raw Cacao Powder.<\/p>\n Superfoods\u2019 Imports & Systems Manager, Callan Wolff, said the following:<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for the email regarding heavy metals. We value the work that Topic does in the industry and are happy to address the concerns for your supporters. With each batch of product we receive a Certificate of Analysis from suppliers, including heavy metal results to ensure conforming levels. We also test independently when there are specific concerns surrounding the global production and processing of certain products. The majority of our products are organically certified and all are non-GMO and pesticide-free, so the quality and integrity of our products are very close to heart for us. If extra testing is required, we are more than willing to do so.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Wolff sent documentation of COAs & heavy metal analyses from their suppliers with batch trace-ability, plus their own lab analysis for their chocolate bars done in August 2017 (see table below).<\/p>\n The regulations<\/strong> According to the test results supplied from Superfoods, the products were both SA and EU regulation compliant.<\/p>\n Diving into the heavy metals in foodstuffs issue is a very broad and complex topic, so to narrow our focus, we looked at cadmium which has become a global issue with cacao and chocolate products.\u00a0<\/p>\n International Cadmium levels<\/strong> According to California\u2019s Proposition 65, the Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) is 4.1 micrograms\/day or 0.0041mg\/day (oral intake).<\/p>\n According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) is 2.5 micrograms\/kg body weight.<\/p>\n\n\n What do these results mean for the consumer?<\/strong><\/p>\n This is just above the allowable limit according to Proposition 65 and depending on actual daily serving size, would require a consumer safety warning labelling in that US state. It is however within the new EU range of 0.60mg\/kg effective from 2019.<\/p>\n Consumer\u2019s test results<\/strong> According to this result, if a consumer eats 10g of this batch of Superfoods Cacao paste per day, they will ingest 13.5 micrograms of cadmium per serving which is triple the allowable limit according to Proposition 65. Also, 1.35mg\/kg is over double the 2019 EU compliance range of 0.60mg\/kg.<\/p>\n TOPIC\u2019s test results<\/strong> Response from Superfoods founder & MD, Peter Daniel<\/strong> \u201cOur supplier is the most environmentally conscious cacao supplier in the world, and are dedicated to organic and biodynamic agriculture as well as efforts to protect the rainforest.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf indeed the Cadmium levels are this high we will reduce the recommended daily usage amount on the packaging, although we also recognise that we are within the EU limits and are EU certified organic.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe received an email from our supplier to say that they are testing their cacao per farmer batch and are only selling cacao tested below the new EU limits. They have assured us that the next batch we receive will be compliant to the new limits.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
The consumer, Gail Caitlin, states that she ate vast quantities of various Superfoods products alongside a clean diet and started experiencing chronic tiredness, brain fog and tremors. Tests showed that her levels of cadmium, mercury and aluminium were very high and she began researching the origin of these elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2-Superfoods-heavy-metals-5.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
The initial response from the MD of Superfoods,\u00a0Peter Daniel, towards the consumer was somewhat dismissive:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3-Superfoods-cacao-powder-box2-260x300.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n
As far as we could establish, there is no required labelling in SA for heavy metals but Regulations 500 of 2004 and 545 of 2008 specify maximum permitted levels for those heavy metals which can be found here: www.health.gov.za\/…\/2015-04-30-09-11-35?…regulations…maximum-levels…metals\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n
Cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidneys, the skeletal and respiratory systems, and is classified as a human carcinogen. Even small doses build up in the tissues and brain, kidneys, liver and neurological system, and consequences are worse for children than for adults.\u00a0<\/p>\nCadmium
<\/strong><\/td>Regulations <\/strong>
in mg
<\/strong><\/td>Details
<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>California Prop 65<\/strong><\/td> 0.0041mg\/day <\/td> Maximum Allowable
Dose Level per day<\/td><\/tr>EFSA levels<\/strong><\/td>
0.0025mg\/kg of body weight <\/td>Tolerable weekly intake
(TWI)
E.g. if you weigh 60kg: 60 x 0.0025mg = 0.15 mg per
week = 0.02mg per day <\/td><\/tr>EU regulations 1881\/2006<\/strong> <\/td> 0.60 mg\/kg <\/td> From 1 January 2019 <\/td><\/tr> A: Superfoods Cacao <\/strong>
powder – supplier test<\/strong><\/td>
0.44 mg\/kg <\/td><\/td><\/tr> C: Superfoods Cacao <\/strong>
powder – TOPIC test<\/strong><\/td>
<0.01mg\/kg <\/td><\/td><\/tr> B: Superfoods Cacao <\/strong>
paste <\/strong>
– consumer test <\/strong><\/td>
1.35\u00b10.28 mg\/kg <\/td><\/td><\/tr> D: Superfoods Cacao <\/strong>
paste – TOPIC test <\/strong><\/td>1.6mg\/kg <\/td> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-Superfoods-teaspoons-300x300.jpg\")
According to the Superfoods\u2019 original test level (A), if a consumer eats 10g of Superfoods Cacao powder per day (equivalent to 4 level teaspoons or 10,000mg), they will ingest 0,0044 mg per serving.<\/p>\n
In early December 2018, the consumer sent several Superfoods products for heavy metal testing. The results for Cadmium showed:<\/p>\n\n
We sent both the cacao paste and the cacao powder for testing with vastly varying results. The cacao powder tested for less than 0.01mg\/kg detected and the cacao paste showed 1.6mg\/kg.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom research I have done, cacao is extremely dense in most minerals that are naturally found in soil. Hence it appears common that cacao products worldwide get results like this.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/5-Superfoods-new-cacao-label-300x149.jpg\")
TOPIC, met to discuss a way forward which resulted in Superfoods commiting to putting a warning label on their cacao powder and cacao paste products.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/topicsa.org.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/6-Superfoods-cadmium-free.png\")
label put on the Superfoods cacao products as a positive step in line with international standards. Superfoods has additionally committed that their new batches will be within the EU compliance range.<\/p>\n