Health
Consumer Reports Finds Dangerous Lead Levels in Popular Cinnamon Brands
Clear Facts
- Consumer Reports tested 36 ground cinnamon products and found a third exceeded 1 part per million of lead.
- Twelve cinnamon powders are on a “never use” list due to high lead levels.
- Lead exposure can cause severe health issues, especially in children.
A recent investigation by Consumer Reports has raised significant concerns about the safety of certain cinnamon products. Out of 36 ground cinnamon products tested, a third were found to have lead levels exceeding 1 part per million, the threshold that prompts a recall in New York, the only state with such regulations.
Consumer Reports described the findings as “troubling,” noting that the results “raised concerns for our experts, and we shared our data with New York officials so that they could investigate further.”
The “never use” list includes brands such as Paras, EGN, Mimi’s Products, Bowl & Basket, and others. These products are now under scrutiny for their elevated lead content.
The tests were conducted on products purchased from 17 stores across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and online. This investigation followed a lead poisoning outbreak last fall, which affected over 500 children and was traced back to cinnamon in three brands of apple purée pouches.
The FDA has since issued warnings to avoid various ground cinnamon products with high lead levels. “If you have one of those products, we think you should throw it away,” advised James Rogers, PhD, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports.
Manufacturers of some of the flagged products, like Paras and EGN, have agreed to remove them from the market. Others, including Deep and Yu Yee, claim to have tested their products or relied on supplier tests.
Attempts to reach other manufacturers, such as Badia, Mimi’s Products, and Three Rivers, were unsuccessful or did not elicit immediate responses.
On a positive note, several popular store brands were deemed safe. Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic Saigon cinnamon, Walmart’s Great Value ground cinnamon, and Trader Joe’s organic ground cinnamon made the “Okay to Use” list. Whole Foods’ 365 Whole Foods Market ground cinnamon and organic ground cinnamon were among the “Best to Use,” with the latter having the least amount of lead at just 0.02 parts per million.
The FDA has highlighted the severe health risks associated with high lead exposure. Children are particularly vulnerable, facing potential permanent damage to the central nervous system, learning disorders, and developmental defects. Adults are not immune either, with chronic lead exposure posing risks of kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects.
Laura Shumow, executive director of the American Spice Trade Association, explained that lead is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. Cinnamon, derived from the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, can absorb trace amounts of lead from soil and groundwater. “There is no way to remove lead from cinnamon once it is present,” Shumow stated.
James Rogers also noted that lead contamination could occur during processing, storage, and packaging.
Given these findings, it is essential for consumers to be vigilant about the cinnamon products they use to ensure their safety and well-being.
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