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The Significance of Tannic Substances and Theobromine in Chocolate Milk^*

Department of Dairy Industry, Massachusetts State College, Amherst, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT

1. Pure theobromine was non-toxic to albino rats when the ration contained 0.27 per cent of this alkaloid.
   
2. Pure crystalline tannic acid was toxic to rats when the ration contained 2 per cent of this substance.
   
3. A cocoa powder containing 12.15 per cent tannic substances was more toxic to rats than a cocoa powder containing only 2.67 per cent tannic substances when the two cocoa powders had approximately the same theobromine plus caffeine content. The tannic substances from cocoa were less toxic than pure crystalline tannic acid.
   
4. A concentrated extract of cocoa was non-toxic to rats when the ration contained 8 per cent.
   
5. The hemoglobin levels of the blood of rats fed theobromine, crystalline tannic acid, and cocoa powder containing varying amounts of tannic substances, did not vary from the normal enough to be of any significance.
   
6. It is concluded that the toxicity from cocoa can be greatly reduced by selecting a cocoa or chocolate which is low in tannic substance, or preferably using an extract of cocoa as the flavoring material when feasible.
   

^* Contribution 417 of the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. W. NEWELL and C. A. ELVEHJEM STUDIES ON THE GROWTH OF RATS RAISED ON CHOCOLATE MILK Science, May 19, 1944; 99(2577): 411 - 412. [PDF]