Navitas Organics Cacao Powder?

Bob411

Bob411

thrumming with potential
I'm looking for an alternative to Hershey's cocoa powder. I'm sure everybody knows by now, there is lead and cadmium in chocolate. Fruits and vegetables too but, that's something for another day. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to make cookies that taste as good as the ones before we found out about the lead in chocolate. I use Ghirardelli semi-sweet chips and they pass the allowable lead level. My problem is the cookie is a chocolate chocolate cookie so I need cocoa for it too. I tried Nestles cocoa which is safe enough list but, being disappointed in the taste is a huge understatement. Has anyone used Navitas? Anything else you would recommend?
 
This isn't new information but w/ that recent consumer reports article, it's picked up new visibility. I'm not a medical professional but I think you need to consider several factors to make a decision; your frequency and level of consumption of chocolate & cocoa powder and your non-cacao risk factors for heavy metals exposure. IIRC only two cocoa powders out of only a handful tested exceeded Calfornia's max daily recommended level for lead, one being Hershey's "Naturally Unsweetened 100% Cacao". IDK how much you can read into brands/versions not tested since they tested so few.

Personally, I like Saco's natrual & dutched blend. I have no idea where it lands w/r/t content but my consumption is so low & infrequent that I'm not especially concerned.
 
Lerxst said:
This isn't new information but w/ that recent consumer reports article, it's picked up new visibility. I'm not a medical professional but I think you need to consider several factors to make a decision; your frequency and level of consumption of chocolate & cocoa powder and your non-cacao risk factors for heavy metals exposure. IIRC only two cocoa powders out of only a handful tested exceeded Calfornia's max daily recommended level for lead, one being Hershey's "Naturally Unsweetened 100% Cacao". IDK how much you can read into brands/versions not tested since they tested so few.

Personally, I like Saco's natrual & dutched blend. I have no idea where it lands w/r/t content but my consumption is so low & infrequent that I'm not especially concerned.
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Thanks. I've used Saco powdered buttermilk for over 40 years, still use the pancakes recipe on the side of the "can". Never seen their cocoa on the shelves but, I've never seen Navitas either, found it on Amazon.

I'm not a fan of Hershey's chocolate but, I was really surprised how much better their cocoa is than the Nestles. I mentioned just going back to Hershey's to wife and her answer has a hard no. So, I don't have high hopes for her approving the Saco, even though it might be under approved levels if they tested it. I think I'll email Saco and ask them if they have tested.
 
I like the cocoa powder from a mail order place in wisconsin called penzey's. No idea if they have heavy metal data though. I think living in Chicago there was likely waaaaay higher exposure to lead from the drinking water than from chocolate intake.
 
Bob411 said:
I'm not a fan of Hershey's chocolate but, I was really surprised how much better their cocoa is than the Nestles.
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It MIGHT be because their stuff is a lower percentage of cacao. They mix more stuff into it.
Most of the stuff tested in the report is 70% or higher.

The report even suggests mixing in more stuff to lower the risk.
 
dodgechargerfan said:
It MIGHT be because their stuff is a lower percentage of cacao. They mix more stuff into it.
Most of the stuff tested in the report is 70% or higher.

The report even suggests mixing in more stuff to lower the risk.
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In say, a candy bar,the it's the dark chocolate ones, milk chocolate ones are cut :grin: enough. But, Nestle is supposed to be "Made with 100% pure cocoa.", just like the Hersheys.

https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/products/nestle-toll-house-cocoa-8-oz/

It looks like the cadium is from the ground it's grown in and the lead is introduced during possessing.
 
I am 47 years old. I couldn't give a flying shit if my chocolate chip cookies are 50% lead. This seems like a lot of work and stress over a damn cookie.
 
Remember lead paint? Kids being poisoned by eating lead paint chips. Huge campaign in the late 60’s and 70’s That was crazy and lead paint went away. This cocoa issue is not that. It’s not remotely close to that. There are no reports of kids having lead poisoning. We have stuff that’s dangerous being reported and ripped for store shelves on the regular. If this was a danger of real caliber I just don’t see it remaining for sale.
 
Bob411 said:
In say, a candy bar,the it's the dark chocolate ones, milk chocolate ones are cut :grin: enough. But, Nestle is supposed to be "Made with 100% pure cocoa.", just like the Hersheys.

https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/products/nestle-toll-house-cocoa-8-oz/

It looks like the cadium is from the ground it's grown in and the lead is introduced during possessing.
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Well, they all start out with 100% cocoa. The cut determines the percentage.
As the report suggests, cutting it dilutes the contamination.

So, I say eat as much chocolate as you want, just cut it with cookie ingredients, milk, potato chips, peanut butter, bananas, etc until you feel the risk is reduced enough.

:grin:
 
dodgechargerfan said:
Well, they all start out with 100% cocoa. The cut determines the percentage.
As the report suggests, cutting it dilutes the contamination.

So, I say eat as much chocolate as you want, just cut it with cookie ingredients, milk, potato chips, peanut butter, bananas, etc until you feel the risk is reduced enough.

:grin:
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I'm not trying to brag but, these are really good cookies. Women especially love them, say things like, "they are little bits of heaven" "they are really more like a tiny brownie" and, to her husband and I wish you could hear me imitate the tone of her voice, "what's your specialty cookie that you make".

I'm just trying to make the point that even though eggs, flour,sugar, etc. will cut it, the number of cookie eaten will bring it back up to dangerous levels.
 
Since you use their morsels (what a great word), have you tried Ghirardelli coca powder?
 
Wyatt said:
Since you use their morsels (what a great word), have you tried Ghirardelli coca powder?
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Their morsels (gotta say I love that word too) were tested and passed. Their cocoa was not tested. I should try asking them if they have tested it themselves. I couldn't find an email for Saco, found them on facebook and messaged them. They did not respond.
 
Emailed before work, got home from work to an email from them. I asked them if they tested their cocoa or, knew if anybody else did. Wish they said they know it "safe to consume" because we tested it or, we had someone test it.

Omitted the niceties part, this is the meat and potatoes of the email.-
We can reassure you that our products are safe to consume, and Ghirardelli remains dedicated to upholding the highest product quality and safety standards.

... and you may think I worry a little too much well, I do like less lead in my food but, I'm married. A little glimpse into my life, wife will only eat organic beef because she is still afraid of madcow disease and wouldn't let any of our kids eat beef till they were 18, then they could decide for themselves.
 
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