High levels of lead were found in 12 brands of cinnamon powder and multi-spice blends tested by Consumer Reports, the nonprofit organization said on Sept. 12.
The products were purchased from 17 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, as well as online.
According to Consumer Reports, 12 of the 36 products contained levels of lead above one part per million (ppm), which the organization said is the threshold to trigger a recall in New York state, the only U.S. state that regulates heavy metals in spices.
The organization found the highest level of lead in Paras cinnamon powder (3.52 ppm) and EGN cinnamon powder (2.91 ppm).
That was followed by Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon (2.03 ppm), 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 spices powder (1.05 ppm), Badia cinnamon powder (1.03 ppm) and Deep cinnamon powder (1.02 ppm).
According to Consumer Reports, just a quarter teaspoon of any of those products has more lead than you should consume in an entire day.
“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,” James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, said.
‘Okay to Use’
Consumer Reports said that 18 of the 36 products tested were “okay to use,” at recommended daily usage ranging from a quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon.‘Best to Use’
The six brands that posed the lowest risk in its testing were Sadaf Seven Spice (0.15 ppm), 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Cinnamon (0.12 ppm), Loisa Organic Cinnamon (0.04 ppm), Morton & Bassett San Francisco Organic Ground Cinnamon (0.04 ppm), and 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Cinnamon (0.04 ppm). Consumer Reports said these products were “best to use,” with recommended daily usage ranging from 1 1/2 to 16 teaspoons.Lead Poisoning
Lead is toxic and there is no safe level of exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High levels of lead can lead to devastating effects on childhood development, behavior, and academic achievement.Children from low-income households and those who live in housing built before 1978, when lead in paint was banned, are at the greatest risk of lead exposure, the health agency said.
Paras and EGN told Consumer Reports they would stop selling their cinnamon powder products and had asked stores to remove them.
McCormick told Consumer Reports that it monitors “environmental conditions that may increase the natural occurrence of heavy metals,” while Penzeys said it grinds its own spices and that the raw material is tested before grinding.
Simply Organic said that it has adopted New York state’s limits and conducts “comprehensive in-house inspections and additional product testing for every shipment of incoming material.”
Deep and Yu Yee Brand both said they “tested their product or relied on tests from their suppliers.”
A spokesperson for The Spice Lab told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: “We are a premium spice company, we only buy tested spices and require less than one ppm in cinnamon.”
BaiLiFeng, Mimi’s Products, and Spicy King could not be reached for comment.
