Is dark chocolate really the healthier choice? New study reveals concerns

Aug 16, 2023

1 min

Melissa Melough

For those who love chocolate, dark chocolate is often seen as the "better" or "healthier" option. But is it really?


This past December, Consumer Reports analyzed 28 dark chocolate bars from a variety of brands and found that 23 of them contained concerning levels of lead, cadmium or both.



Melissa Melough, an assistant professor of behavioral health and nutrition at the University of Delaware, recently told The New York Times: “If you’re a regular consumer of these dark chocolates, I would be concerned."


This concern is especially heightened if one is pregnant, breastfeeding or have a child who enjoys dark chocolate. 


For more on why dark chocolate may be concerning, reach out to Melough by clicking on her profile. 


Connect with:
Melissa Melough

Melissa Melough

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences

Prof. Melough studies the interrelationships of nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health.

NutritionEpidemiologyPublic HealthMolecular EpidemiologyCancer Epidemiology

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

New survey shows lack of public trust in Musk, DOGE

New data from the Center for Political Communication (CPC) at the University of Delaware shows many Americans have little trust in either Elon Musk or the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a nationally-representative sample of 1,600 adult Americans surveyed by YouGov between February 27 and March 5, 2025, CPC researchers asked how much trust respondents had in various people and institutions, including Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency, and President Trump. Among the key findings: • 25% of Americans report having “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in Elon Musk 26% report having “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). • 33% report having “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in President Donald Trump. • About half of Republicans report “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in either (compared to 70% of Republicans who report “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in President Trump). • Among independent voters, only 11% report “a lot” or “a great deal” of trust in Musk and 13% in DOGE. “As constituents in Republican districts learn about and voice concerns about DOGE’s cuts to Veteran’s Affairs, The National Institutes of Health, National Parks, and the Federal Aviation Administration, it will be interesting to see how public trust in Musk and DOGE may be affected,” said Dr. Dannagal Young, Director of the Center for Political Communication and one of the authors of the survey. “Understanding public sentiment about these unique government entities is essential to help ensure that elected officials are responsive to voter concerns." Visit the CPC's website for full results of the survey. To connect with Young for an interview, visit her profile and click the contact button.

1 min

March Madness: Experts comment on picking underdogs, prop bets and economic benefits

Why do people pick underdogs when filling out their brackets for the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments? How do people consume March Madness? How does the tournament benefit host cities and teams economically? University of Delaware experts have the answers. The following UD faculty members can provide their expertise for journalists working on stories about the tournament, which begin this week. • Jackie Silverman, assistant professor of marketing: Why people can't resist choosing underdogs when filling out their brackets. • John Allgood, instructor of sport management: How people consume March Madness (streaming vs. cable TV) and how major collegiate sports events can help brand individual schools. Contact UD media relations to reach him. • Tim DeSchriver, associate professor of sport management: Sports gambling (including prop bets) and advertising targets. • Matthew Robinson, professor of sport management: Economic benefits of the host city. • Matt McGranaghan, assistant professor of marketing: Consumer attention span during commercial breaks. To reach these experts directly and set up interviews, visit the expert profiles below and click on the contact button.

2 min

Understanding waterfowl movement and bird flu

Scores of waterfowl are currently on the move, and experts are worried they could further spread highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. But these flocks, which can number in the thousands and include Canada geese and snow geese, are of most concern around poultry houses, said University of Delaware’s Christopher Williams. The risk to humans and dogs getting bird flu from geese who inhabit their neighborhoods remains low, Williams said. Williams, a professor wildlife ecology in UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, explained why this is happening: • Smaller ducks such as blue-winged teal, larger ducks such as mallards, and larger geese like Canada geese and snow geese are heading north to their breeding grounds. • Waterfowl are a primary reservoir for avian influenza viruses, meaning they can harbor bird flu strains viruses, spread them, and in some cases show no signs of disease. They can shed the virus through their saliva, naval secretions, and feces. • Waterfowl serve as the primary vector of avian influenza to the U.S. poultry industry which has affected more than 8 million commercial and backyard chickens and turkeys that have been culled to keep the virus from spreading. “While we are worried about these flocks congregating near poultry houses, the risk of humans getting bird flu from waterfowl remains low,” Williams said. “Further, walking dogs around areas with geese flocks should pose little threat to dogs’ health as avian influenza is very rare in dogs.” Nevertheless, Williams cautions people and dogs to avoid touching sick birds or dead birds. A large segment of the Canada geese population are not migratory, Williams said. They will stick around the Mid-Atlantic year-round and tend to congregate and breed near grocery store parking lots, golf courses and neighborhoods. “Those birds are being drawn to needing two things. No. 1 is they need water including any natural pond or water containment area,” Williams said. “And all the geese species are herbivores, so No. 2 they eat grass. There are places that have both water and grass that will provide ideal nesting habitat for the geese and their chicks.” Reporters can connect with Williams by visiting his profile and clicking on the “contact” button.

View all posts