A recent research has revealed alarming amounts of lead in cinnamon and other spice combinations sourced from twelve different companies. This investigation was carried out with samples collected across stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and online has made us take a thorough examination towards spices found within our kitchens.
High lead levels in specific brands
According to the recent report, some brands of cinnamon and spice powders show large amounts of lead contamination. With 3.52 parts per million (ppm), paras cinnamon powder had the highest measured concentration of lead. It was followed by EGN cinnamon powder with 2.91 ppm and Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon with 2.03 ppm.
Other affected brands include:
- ShopRite Bowl & Basket ground cinnamon (1.82 ppm)
- Rani Brand ground cinnamon (1.39 ppm)
- Zara Foods cinnamon powder (1.27 ppm)
- Three Rivers cinnamon stick powder (1.26 ppm)
- Yu Yee Brand five spice powder (1.25 ppm)
- BaiLiFeng five spice powder (1.15 ppm)
- Spicy King five spice powder (1.05 ppm)
- Badia cinnamon powder (1.03 ppm)
- Deep cinnamon powder (1.02 ppm)
Consumer Reports notes that lead levels above 1 ppm are enough to trigger a recall in New York, which is the only U.S. state that regulates heavy metals in spices.
Manufacturer responses and safety measures
After the announcement of these findings, Paras and EGN have promised to cease sales and have taken the stock of the related products out of the market. Other brands such as Mimi’s Products and ShopRite Bowl & Basket have defended the safety of their goods. Mimi’s Products said that their analytical reports show concentrations of lead under 1 ppm while ShopRite maintained that it is compliant with all safety and quality standards.
In spite of these assurances, however, experts like James Rogers at Consumer Reports continue to reiterate that there is no safe level of exposure to lead. “Even small amounts of lead pose a risk because, over time, it can accumulate in the body and remain there for years, seriously harming health,” explained Rogers.
Regulatory and health concerns
The lead concentration in spices has not been set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but consumers are advised to avoid products with high lead content. By 2024, the Codex Alimentarius which is an international food safety organization intends to set a maximum limit of 2.5 ppm for lead in spices like cinnamon. Nevertheless, until such measures are implemented, it is vital to monitor and for customers to remain vigilant.
Children are particularly affected by lead exposure which can result in developmental issues, learning disabilities as well as other serious diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that lead caused close to a million deaths (956 000) with huge amounts of disabilities and illness in 2019 alone.
Safer alternatives and testing
Certain brands were found to contain lower amounts of lead, according to Consumer Reports. They include: Kirkland Signature organic Saigon cinnamon (0.80 ppm), Great Value ground cinnamon (0.79 ppm), Trader Joe’s organic ground cinnamon (0.69 ppm) among others with even lesser quantities. These products are viewed as safer substitutes presently.
Following this completion of the investigation, it is significant for you to examine your spice cabinets and opt for those brands with lesser levels of lead. Though limited, the tests done by Consumer Reports serve as a baseline for evaluating probable exposure to lead from spices.
The FDA continues its monitoring and issuing health warnings regarding spice products when necessary. As part of its 2025 budget request, the agency requests more power to require testing for contaminants and to access test records which would enable them to address product safety concerns.
