A recent Consumer Reports study found high levels of lead in various cinnamon products available for retail sale.
Food Poisoning News has previously reported this year on the widespread discovery of lead in ground cinnamon from a number of brands due to elevated levels of lead:
- Colonna Brothers expanded recall of ground cinnamon products
- New York-based American Spices, LLC, Advance Food International, Inc., and ALB-USA Enterprises, Inc. each recall ground cinnamon products
- Raja Foods recall of its Swad-brand cinnamon powder
Consumer Reports tested 36 ground cinnamon products and spice blends containing cinnamon, such as garam masala and five-spice powder. The products were sourced from mainstream grocery stores and specialty stores catering to international cuisines. The results were concerning: 12 of the 36 products tested contained lead levels exceeding 1 part per million (ppm), the threshold that triggers a recall in New York, the only U.S. state that regulates heavy metals in spices.
The 12 cinnamon products that Consumer Reports says to not use because of elevated lead levels include:
- Paras cinnamon powder – 3.52 ppm
- EGN cinnamon powder – 2.91 ppm
- Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon – 2.03 ppm
- 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
- Deep cinnamon powder – 1.02 ppm
The presence of lead in these products poses serious health risks, especially for children and pregnant women. Lead exposure can damage the brain and nervous system, leading to developmental delays, learning and behavior problems, and other severe health issues. Even for adults, prolonged exposure to lead can result in significant health problems, as lead accumulates in the body over time.
Consumer Reports stressed the gravity of the situation. “Just a quarter teaspoon of any of those products has more lead than you should consume in an entire day,” said a senior director from the organization. Consumer Reports has advised consumers to discard any cinnamon products identified in the report to avoid potential health risks.
The findings have prompted calls for stricter regulations and better oversight of spice products. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have specific regulations for heavy metals in spices, leaving a significant gap in consumer protection. Consumer Reports has urged the FDA to establish strong standards to safeguard public health.
In response to the report, some companies have already begun removing affected products from store shelves. However, the lack of federal regulations means that many potentially harmful products may still be available for purchase. Consumers are advised to check their spice racks and discard any products listed in the report.
A number of cinnamon products were deemed by Consumer Reports as “okay to use” but lead levels in those products still ranged from 0.23 to 0.87 ppm. Only six cinnamon products were recommended by the organization as “best to use:”
- Sadaf seven spice – 0.15 ppm, can use up to 1 ½ tsp daily
- 365 Whole Foods Market ground cinnamon – 0.12 ppm, can use up to 2 tsp daily
- Loisa organic cinnamon – 0.04 ppm, can use up to 5 ¾ tsp daily
- Morton & Bassett San Francisco 100% organic ground cinnamon – 0.04 ppm, can use up to 6 tsp daily
- Sadaf cinnamon powder – 0.04 ppm, can use up to 6 ¾ tsp daily
- 365 Whole Foods Market organic ground cinnamon, can use up to 16 tsp daily
In its findings, Consumer Reports recommended a number of actions that consumers could take to minimize the risk of lead exposure from cinnamon and other products:
- Only buy cinnamon from those in the “best to use” category
- Avoid “no name” brands and only use cinnamon products from household brand names
- “Organic” on the label is no guarantee of lower lead levels
- Place of origin is also no guarantee of lower lead levels
- Take care when bringing back cinnamon products from travels abroad
- Be cautious when taking cinnamon for health purposes as that usually involves ingesting higher quantities
- Limit lead exposure from other potential sources like water and foods known to be high in heavy metals
- Eat a varied diet
Commenting on this story, one national lead poisoning lawyer said, “Cinnamon is a key ingredient in many recipes and is regularly enjoyed by many people. Unfortunately, there are no safe levels of lead exposure so I recommend that consumers dispose of any cinnamon products that have been recalled or that contain elevated lead levels.”
