UNITED STATES: Hershey Co. (HSY.N) has been sued by a customer who accused the business of selling dark chocolate that includes harmful levels of cadmium and lead.
Hershey slides in trouble
In a class action complaint filed on Wednesday, Christopher Lazazzaro stated that he would not have purchased or paid less for Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate.
According to him, Lily’s Extra Dark Chocolate contains 70% cocoa, and Lily’s Extreme Dark Chocolate contains 85% cocoa, due to which Hershey had disclosed their metal levels.
Requests for comment regarding the complaint, which was filed in the federal court in Central Islip, New York, did not immediately receive a response from the company on Thursday.
Numerous studies suggest that the antioxidants in dark chocolate and its comparatively low sugar content may help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Two weeks after Consumer Reports published the findings of its research on the presence of lead and cadmium in 28 dark chocolate bars, Lazazzaro, a resident of Nassau County, New York, filed a lawsuit.
All 28 of the chocolates tested positive for heavy metals, according to the magazine, but 23 of them, including chocolate from Dove, Godiva, Lindt, and Trader Joe’s, tested positive for amounts of lead, cadmium, or both that might be dangerous to people who consume one ounce of chocolate daily.
As stated in the magazine, Hershey’s Special Dark bar, Lily’s 70% bar, and Lily’s 85% bar were all high in lead because such levels pose a “serious health risk,” as per Lazzazzaro, reasonable consumers would be put off by them. Additionally, consumers depend on Hershey, to be honest about the ingredients in its products.
At least $5 million in damages are sought in the complaint, including the minimum amount required by New York law—$500 per transaction. In June 2021, Lily’s was acquired by Hershey for $425 million.
Requests for comment, including inquiries about whether other cases are anticipated, were not immediately answered by Lazazzaro’s attorneys.
Lazazzaro v. Hershey Co. is the case; it is being heard in the Eastern District of New York by the United States District Court, No. 22-07923.
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