Twelve cinnamon powders have been listed as “never use” following a study that found alarming levels of lead by food safety scientists, as reported by Consumer Reports. The organization tested 36 ground cinnamon products and spice blends containing cinnamon, discovering that a third of these products contained lead levels exceeding 1 part per million. This is particularly significant as it surpasses the threshold triggering a recall in New York, the only state regulating heavy metals in spices.
Consumer Reports described the findings as “troubling” and has shared data with New York officials for further investigation. The twelve products on the “don’t use” list include Paras cinnamon powder, EGN cinnamon powder, Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon, Bowl & Basket ground cinnamon, Zara Foods cinnamon powder, Three Rivers cinnamon stick powder, Yu Yee Brand five spice powder, BaiLiFeng five spice powder, Spicy King five spice powder, Badia cinnamon powder, Rani Brand cinnamon powder, and Deep cinnamon powder.
The testing of these products, sourced from 17 stores across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and online, followed an outbreak of lead poisoning among over 500 children traced back to the cinnamon in three brands of apple purée pouches. The FDA subsequently warned consumers to avoid various ground cinnamon products with elevated lead levels.
Consumer Reports’ Director of Food Safety Research and Testing, James Rogers, PhD, advised that such products should be discarded due to the risks associated with lead accumulation in the body over time. This accumulation can seriously harm health, particularly in children, leading to learning disorders and developmental defects.
Manufacturers of Paras and EGN cinnamon powders have announced the removal of their products from the market. Deep and Yu Yee have either tested their products or relied on suppliers’ tests. Attempts to reach the makers of Badia, Mimi’s Products, Three Rivers, Rani Brand, Bowl & Basket, Zara, BaiLiFeng, and Spicy King for comments were either unsuccessful or received no response.
Several popular store brands, however, were deemed safe to use, including Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic Saigon cinnamon, Walmart’s Great Value ground cinnamon, and Trader Joe’s organic ground cinnamon. Whole Foods’ 365 Whole Foods Market ground cinnamon and organic ground cinnamon were categorized under the “Best to Use,” with the latter having the lowest measured lead level of just 0.02 parts per million.
The FDA notes that high lead exposure in children can result in permanent central nervous system damage, leading to long-term health issues. Adults with chronic lead exposure might face 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 and can be absorbed by cinnamon trees from soil and groundwater. Consequently, it is challenging to eliminate trace amounts of lead from cinnamon. Additionally, processing equipment, storage containers, and packaging can further introduce lead into the cinnamon.
Daniella Genovese from FOX Business contributed to this report.
