Cocoa solids

The alkalization process reduces bitterness and improves solubility, which is important for beverage product applications.

It contains several minerals in rich content (having a Daily Value of 20% or higher), including manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc, while calcium levels are moderate (table).

[1][9][10] Cocoa powders may contain cadmium, a toxic heavy metal and probable carcinogen, found naturally in high levels in the soil of some regions of cocoa-producing countries.

[12] While the US government has not set a limit for cadmium in foods or health products, the state of California has established a maximum allowable daily level of oral cadmium exposure of 4.1 μg and requires products containing more than this amount per daily serving to bear a warning on the label.

[13] One investigation by an independent consumer testing laboratory found that seven of nine commercially available in the US cocoa powders and nibs selected for testing contained more than 0.3 μg of cadmium per serving gram; five of these products exceeded the EU limit of 0.6 μg per gram.