Have you ever stopped to consider the lead content in your ground cinnamon? A recent investigation by Consumer Reports has shed light on the potentially toxic levels of lead found in many commonly used ground cinnamon products. Shockingly, some tests revealed high lead levels, raising concerns about the safety of this pantry staple.
Consumer Reports meticulously tested 36 ground cinnamon products and spice blends containing cinnamon. Alarmingly, one out of every three products exceeded the threshold of 1 part per million of lead, a level that can trigger a recall in New York state.
Even more concerning is the fact that just a quarter of a teaspoon of these high-lead products contains more lead than is safe to consume in an entire day. This revelation serves as a crucial reminder of the potential health risks associated with lead exposure, particularly for children and pregnant individuals. In adults, lead exposure has been linked to kidney damage and hypertension.
But how does lead end up in our cinnamon?
The journey of cinnamon from tree to pantry can lead to lead contamination. Cinnamon trees, which take approximately ten years to grow, have ample time to absorb lead from their surrounding soil and water sources. Additionally, during the drying process, the concentration of lead can increase. Most of the cinnamon available in the U.S. is imported from countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, where regulations on soil contaminants may not be as strict.
Consumer Reports identified three lesser-known brands, Mimi’s Products, Paras, and EGN, as having the highest lead levels among the tested products. These brands are primarily sold in international food markets.
If you happen to have any of these high-lead products in your pantry, it’s advisable to discard them immediately. Only Paras and EGN have committed to discontinuing the sale of their products after being alerted to the test results.
While only two out of the ten other companies responded to the findings, it’s reassuring to know that some brands, such as 365 Whole Foods Market and Morton & Bassett San Francisco, contained very low or undetectable levels of lead.
Despite these alarming findings, there are currently no federal limits for lead in cinnamon or other spices. Consumer advocates are urging for nationwide regulations similar to those in New York, where over 100 spices have been recalled due to heavy metal contamination since 2016. Consumer Reports has shared its results with the Food and Drug Administration, although the agency has not provided any comments on the findings.
As we await further regulatory action, experts recommend opting for cinnamon products with the lowest lead levels, sticking to reputable brands, and minimizing overall lead exposure from all sources.
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