Chocolate maker Hershey has been sued in the US over claims the firm is selling items containing unsafe degrees of metal.
The claim brought by Christopher Lazazzaro charges the firm deceived shoppers by neglecting to unveil the amounts of lead and cadmium in three dim chocolate bars.
He guaranteed he could never have bought the items assuming he had known.
Hershey’s didn’t promptly answer a solicitation for input.
A few examinations propose that the cell reinforcements and somewhat low degrees of sugar in dim chocolate could assist with forestalling coronary illness.
In any case, the claim alludes to late discoveries by US magazine Shopper Reports (CR), which tried 28 dim chocolate bars for lead and cadmium.
The magazine asserted that 23 of them, including chocolate from Hershey, Godiva and Lindt, contained “similarly more significant levels” of the metals.
“For 23 of the bars, eating simply an ounce (28g) a day would put a grown-up over a level that general wellbeing specialists and CR’s specialists say might be hurtful for something like one of those weighty metals,” it guaranteed.
Specifically, Hershey’s Extraordinary Dim bar and Lily’s 70% bar were high in lead, while Lily’s 85% bar was high in lead and cadmium.
“Any food can contain weighty metals assuming they are available in the dirt in high fixation,” nutritionist Sheeba Majmudar told the BBC.
“Presently there are no food regulations expressing that all food clumps should be tried – until they make you debilitated. While no amount of poisons is protected, it is generally the ‘purchaser be careful’ motto that rings a bell,” she added.
Mr Lazazzaro’s claim, recorded on Wednesday in a government court in New York, charges that he could not have possibly purchased or needed to save money on the Hershey’s Exceptional Dull Somewhat Sweet Chocolate, Lily’s Additional Dim Chocolate 70% Cocoa and Lily’s Super Dim Chocolate bars.
Hershey purchased low-sugar treat producer Lily’s last June, referring to it as “an extraordinary expansion to Hershey’s developing arrangement of better-for-you eating brands”.
“Buyers depend on [Hershey] to be honest with respect to the fixings,” the claim contends.
That’s what it adds “individuals are worried about what is in the food that they are placing into their bodies,” while guardians and parental figures are “worried about the thing they are taking care of to youngsters in their consideration”.
Mr Lazazzaro is looking for somewhere around $5m (£4.2m) in penalties from Hershey in the proposed legal claim.
Both Hershey and Mr Lazazzaro’s legal advisors didn’t promptly answer BBC demands for input.