Lead, cadmium and nickel in chocolates and candies from suburban areas of Mumbai, India

Nickel, lead and cadmium contents were determined in 69 different brands of chocolates and candies available in local markets of suburban areas of Mumbai, India. The majority of these chocolates and candies are made mainly from cocoa, milk solids, dry fruits, fruit flavours and sugar. Out of 69 brands of chocolates and candies analysed, 23 were cocoa-based, 22 milk-based and another 24 were of fruit flavour and sugar-based. Cadmium level ranged from 0.001 to 2.73 μg/g with an average of 0.105 μg/g. Nickel ranged from 0.041 to 8.29 μg/g with an average of 1.63 μg/g and lead level ranged from 0.049 to 8.04 μg/g with an average of 0.93 μg/g. Cocoa-based chocolates are found to have higher contents of the analysed heavy metals than milk-based chocolates, fruit flavour- or sugar-based candies.