Hershey Co. is facing a major lawsuit from a consumer who claims that the dark chocolate the company is selling is replete with harmful potentially levels of heavy metals cadmium and lead.

According to Reuters, Christopher Lazazzaro said in a proposed class action lawsuit that was filed this week he would never have purchased our would have paid less for Hershey's Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate, Lily's Extra Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa and Lily's Extreme Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, if the company had disclosed the heavy metal content.

The suit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Central Islip, N.Y. The company did not respond to Reuters for a request for comment.

Previously published studies have shown that antioxidants and lower levels of sugar in dark chocolate can help stave off heart disease. One study published in 2019 noted, according to its abstract:

Chocolate is well known for its fine flavor, and its history began in ancient times, when the Maya considered chocolate (a cocoa drink prepared with hot water) the "Food of the Gods". The food industry produces many different types of chocolate: in recent years, dark chocolate, in particular, has gained great popularity.

Interest in chocolate has grown, owing to its physiological and potential health effects, such as regulation of blood pressure, insulin levels, vascular functions, oxidation processes, prebiotic effects, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism.