The term ‘cocoa’
refers to the seeds or beans that are contained in the pod (fruit) of a cocoa
tree that grows in the tropics. The seed-based product that is extracted
contains several substances that can affect the mind i.e. ‘psychoactive’
compounds. For example, caffeine, serotonin, theobromine, tryptophan and
tryptamine are all psychoactive substances present in the seed extract.
General
uses
Extracts from the
cocoa seed are used to make chocolate, and other food and drink-based products.
They are also used in the cosmetic industry.
Reported
tobacco industry uses
All parts of the
cocoa pod (i.e. the shell, extract, and its powder) are used to help produce the
tobacco in cigarettes. The chocolate notes in cocoa are reportedly added to make
the tobacco smooth and to enhance its flavour.
The average amount
of cocoa added to cigarettes is around 0.3% of the total weight of the tobacco
used in one cigarette. The maximum amount of cocoa added is reported to be just
over 1% of the total tobacco weight.
Harmful
health effects
It is unclear
whether cocoa increases the toxicity of cigarette smoke. However, due to its
potential ability to make cigarettes more attractive, cocoa may be toxic
indirectly. For instance, adding cocoa to make cigarettes taste better can make
it easier for a smoker to become addicted. Furthermore, the psychoactive
compounds that are present in cocoa have also been detected in cigarette smoke.
These compounds are thought to increase the addictiveness of cigarettes in two
ways: (1) helping the lungs take up more nicotine into the body, and (2) forming
the substance harman, which is believed to improve a person’s mood in a similar
way to anti-depressant drugs.
It is not known to
what extent cocoa affects the taste and smell of the smoke that is inhaled by
the smoker. Also, the low amounts of these compounds in cigarettes does question
whether cocoa can influence cigarette addiction in a major way. Nonetheless,
what is known is that additives with the ability to improve a cigarette’s taste
could ultimately lead to more cigarettes being smoked, and therefore greater
exposure to the toxic substances in cigarette smoke.
This text of the
factsheet on the tobacco additive cocoa written by the Dutch National Institute
for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). You can find the original in
English on the RIVM website www.tabakinfo.nl
This initiative has
received funding from the European Union in the framework of the Health
Programme.