Lead in Bubble Tea

You may see headlines about possible lead contamination in bubble tea. A popular consumer organization recently tested tapioca pearls from select boba tea brands for heavy metals. Tapioca pearls are made from cassava root - a vegetable that’s previously been linked to high lead levels. Findings showed that while lead levels in bubble tea were higher than ideal and varied across products, they didn’t reach the threshold considered a “level of concern.” The takeaway? Based on this, it’s reasonable to think of bubble tea as an occasional treat. We’ll keep you informed as additional data emerges.