Recent tests reveal alarming lead levels in several ground cinnamon products, which pose significant health risks.
Consumer Reports identified multiple ground cinnamon brands with unsafe lead amounts, leading to some recalls, Mail Online reported.
Consumer Reports found that 12 out of 36 tested cinnamon products exceeded 1 part per million (PPM) of lead, the recall threshold in New York. Even small quantities of lead can accumulate in the body over time, causing serious health issues.
The investigation, which covered products bought in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and online, highlights ongoing food safety concerns.
The most contaminated product, Paras Cinnamon Powder, contained 3.5 PPM of lead. EGN and Mimi's had lead levels of 2.9 and 2 PPM, respectively, while mainstream brand Badia Spices tested at 1.03 PPM, just above the recall threshold.
While some products, such as Amazon's Happy Belly, Costco's Kirkland Signature, and Walmart's Great Value, remained below the recall threshold, they still contained detectable lead levels of 0.8 PPM, which approaches dangerous levels for regular consumption.
In contrast, Whole Foods' 365 Organic Cinnamon had the lowest lead level, testing at just 0.02 PPM. This finding shows that achieving lower lead levels in cinnamon is possible and raises questions about why other brands have significantly higher levels.
Dr. James Rogers, the director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, has strongly advised consumers to discard any cinnamon products with high lead content. He emphasized that "no amount of lead is considered safe" and warned that even low levels of repeated exposure could lead to cumulative health impacts.
Lead consumption can have particularly severe repercussions in children, as numerous media cases demonstrate. For instance, Alyssa Magnuson was shocked to find her daughter Stevie's lead levels were more than 16 times higher than typical levels seen in children. Similarly, Sarah Callahan’s son Rudy had blood lead levels five times above what the FDA considers safe, raising serious concerns about potential long-term developmental impacts.
Consequently, these cases underscore the dangers of lead exposure and highlight the need for stringent quality controls and immediate action when safety thresholds are breached. Moreover, Consumer Reports has already sparked discussions on reviewing and possibly tightening food safety regulations regarding lead content.
In addition, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that no level of lead exposure is safe, emphasizing the need to eliminate toxic substances from food, especially products consumed by children.
Last year's recall of WanaBana fruit pouches, after 500 children fell ill from lead-contaminated cinnamon, highlights the ongoing issue of lead contamination. *Therefore*, we must address this problem at the production and regulatory levels to prevent future incidents.
Karen Everstine, technical director at FoodchainID, observed that although brands do not intentionally harm consumers, profitability can overshadow safety standards. *As a result*, we need to shift this mindset to prioritize health.
Consumers now question the safety of common kitchen spices. *Consequently*, as investigations and recalls proceed, hope remains that stricter regulations will mitigate future risks.
Morgan Shurtleff’s reaction to discovering high lead levels in a kitchen spice reflects public sentiment: "That was the scariest thing that ever happened to me." *In turn*, this reaction underscores the growing demand for transparency and safety in food products worldwide.
