Abstract
Since 1 January 2019 a maximum content of 0.6 mg kg−1 cadmium (Cd) in cocoa powder sold to the final consumer or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder sold to the final consumer (drinking chocolate) is set by the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 488/2014. Monitoring compliance with the specified limit value requires analytical measuring methods and reference materials for quality control. However, suitable certified reference materials intended for quality assurance and quality control purposes are still lacking. Therefore, three cocoa reference materials (ERM®-BD513, ERM®-514 and ERM®-515) were developed according to the requirements of ISO 17034 and the recommendations of ISO Guide 35. The whole process of reference material development, including material preparation, assessment of homogeneity and stability, characterisation and value assignment is presented. The assignment of the certified mass fractions was based upon an interlaboratory comparison study involving 19 expert laboratories for Cd and 12 laboratories for acrylamide. The certified mass fractions and expanded uncertainties (k = 2) of the reference materials were (0.181 ± 0.009) mg kg−1 Cd (ERM®-BD513), (0.541 ± 0.024) mg kg−1 Cd (ERM®-BD514) and (0.690 ± 0.029) mg kg−1 Cd (ERM®-BD515). Acrylamide contents are given for information.
Highlights
Food safety and quality are two of the most important factors determining consumer acceptance of a product
The EU Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/ 2014 of 12 May 2014 sets a maximum content of 0.6 mg Cd kg−1 in cocoa powder sold to the final consumer or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder sold to the final consumer from 1 January 2019
This was the case for Cd in ERM®-BD514 and ERM®-BD515 and for acrylamide in ERM®-BD514
Summary
Food safety and quality are two of the most important factors determining consumer acceptance of a product. A biological function of cadmium in animals and humans is not known, but cadmium can mimic other divalent metals that are essential for various biological functions, e.g. calcium in bone [1]. Due to the occurrence of the Itai-Itai disease in Japan in the mid-1950s of the twentieth century, the toxic effects of cadmium for humans are well known. Since chocolate and cocoa products are one of the food groups that contribute most to dietary exposure to Cd, and since chocolate as such and other sweetened cocoa products used in cocoa drinks are often consumed by children and adolescents, the European Commission has decided to set a limit for Cd in cocoa and chocolate. The EU Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/ 2014 of 12 May 2014 sets a maximum content of 0.6 mg Cd kg−1 in cocoa powder sold to the final consumer or as an ingredient in sweetened cocoa powder sold to the final consumer (drinking chocolate) from 1 January 2019
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