HEAVY MELTAL CONTENTS AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF COCOA BEAN (THEOBROMA CACAO) AND PRODUCTS FOUND IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

This study evaluated the concentration of heavy metals in cocoa powder, chocolate beverages, and confectionery products sold in Ibadan, Nigeria, comparing the results with FAO/WHO permissible limits. Laboratory analysis revealed that several samples contained elevated levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), exceeding international safety thresholds. Particularly concerning were cadmium concentrations in Bournvita and Cowbell (0.80 mg/kg), which surpassed the 0.05 mg/kg permissible limit by more than 15 times. Similarly, lead levels in Bournvita and Snickers (1.50 mg/kg) were five times higher than the allowable limit of 0.30 mg/kg. Pollution Index (PI) assessments indicated moderate to high contamination in all products, with Cowbell chocolate and Bournvita showing critically high PI values for cadmium and lead. Health Risk Assessments using Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard Index (HI) showed that Cowbell (HI = 0.668), Bournvita (HI = 0.634), and Snickers (HI = 0.629) posed the highest non carcinogenic risks, though still below the threshold of concern (HI < 1.0). However, Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) values for cadmium approached the upper safety limit, indicating a potential long-term cancer risk. The presence of multiple heavy metals and strong inter-metal correlations suggest contamination from multiple sources, including agricultural practices, raw material handling, and industrial processing. The study concludes that cocoa-based products in Ibadan present significant public health risks and calls for stronger regulatory enforcement, periodic testing by manufacturers, increased public awareness, and safer packaging and processing methods to mitigate long-term health impacts and ensure food safety in Nigeria. Keywords: Cocoa Bean, Beverage, Chocolate, Heavy Metal, Pollution Index Ibadan Word Count: 250