SAN DIEGO — Boba tea has exploded in popularity in recent years, with new chains opening across the country and plenty of do-it-yourself kits available for fans to create at home. But new testing is raising concerns about how often people should be drinking it.

The sweet Taiwanese drink gets its signature texture from tapioca pearls, which are made from cassava, a root vegetable that Consumer Reports has tested multiple times for lead contamination.

“We did a larger study on cassava-based products and found high levels of lead. We decided to test tapioca pearls, which are found in boba tea, for lead levels as well, because they're cassava-based products,” said Sana Mujahid, the manager of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports.

For this round of testing, Consumer Repor

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