Heavy Metals & Phytochemical Testing of Cocoa Samples

MULTIPLE TESTING & SAMPLES

We are currently sourcing cocoa from Costa Rica and are seeking a qualified laboratory to perform analytical testing on our samples. We are specifically interested in:

1. Heavy metal analysis (including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury), with results benchmarked against California Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Daily Levels (MADLs):

– Lead: 0.5 µg/day

– Cadmium: 4.1 µg/day

– Arsenic (inorganic): 10 µg/day

– Mercury: 0.3 µg/day

2. Flavanol content profiling, including total flavanols, catechins, and epicatechins-ideally using validated HPLC methods.

We would appreciate any information you can provide regarding:

– Your laboratory’s capabilities for the above testing

– Recommended testing methods (e.g., ICP-MS, HPLC)

– Sample size requirements and submission protocols

– Turnaround times and pricing

– Certifications or accreditations (e.g., ISO, AOAC, FDA, Prop 65 experience).

If your lab is well-suited for this work, we’d be happy to begin with a small batch of samples and discuss potential for ongoing testing needs. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response