A dozen brands of cinnamon contain dangerous levels of cancer-causing metals, an investigation has found.
Scientists at the watchdog Consumer Reports tested 36 ground cinnamon products for lead, a toxic metal that has been shown to cause developmental problems in children, reproductive issues, and cancer in high amounts.
The team found that 12 of the tested brands contained more than one part per million (PPM) of lead, enough to trigger a recall in New York, the only state that regulates heavy metals in spices.
And the researchers warned that just a quarter of a teaspoon of these products could pose serious health consequences, particularly in young children, as lead can harm brain development.
Several cinnamon brands have been recalled due to containing lead, a toxic metal
Dr James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, said: ‘If you have one of those products, we think you should throw it away.’
‘Even small amounts of lead pose a risk because, over time, it can accumulate in the body and remain there for years, seriously harming health.’
Several products involved in the testing have already been recalled for containing traces of lead this year, and the two biggest offenders said they would pull the affected products from the shelves.
None of these items have been linked to illnesses, but children’s pouches that contained cinnamon have sickened more than 500 children in the past year.
It’s unclear exactly why so many cinnamon products contain lead, though there are several theories.
Lead is naturally present in the Earth’s crust, which means it could be present in soil that spices are grown within. Additionally, the FDA previously said it was investigating if lead was added intentionally for financial gain.
For example, compounds like red brick, red lead salt, lead oxide and lead chromate, which mirror cinnamon’s red color, have been added to increase the value of the spice, research shows.
Karen Everstine, technical director for food supply chain watchdog FoodchainID, said that it’s essentially a money-making scheme. ‘The intent is not to make people sick. Nobody wants to do that because then they get caught,’ she said. ‘What they want to do is make money.’
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The Consumer Reports researchers purchased 36 ground cinnamon products from 17 stores in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as online marketplaces.
Products from international specialty stores appeared to have the highest levels, with Paras Cinnamon Powder topping the list at 3.5 PPM, three and a half times greater than New York’s recall limit.
Cinnamon from EGN and Mimi’s Products followed close behind at 2.9 PPM and 2 PPM, respectively.
Only one mainstream brand made Consumer Reports’ most dangerous list, with powder from Florida-based company Badia Spices containing 1.03 PPM, just above New York’s limit.
Consumer Reports also ranked several more recognizable brands that are ‘okay to use’ in limited quantities.
For example, Amazon brand Happy Belly, Costco’s Kirkland Signature, and Walmart’s Great Value each contain 0.8 PPM, with experts recommending consuming no more than one quarter of a teaspoon per day.
Whole Foods’ 365 Organic Cinnamon had the lowest lead levels of 0.02 PPM, with experts suggesting a daily limit of 16 teaspoons per day. The store’s non-organic version has 0.1 PPM, and the team suggests sticking to two teaspoons.
Powders from Sadaf and Morton & Bassett San Francisco followed closely behind 365 Whole Foods Organic, both containing 0.04 PPM. The researchers recommend consuming no more than six to seven teaspoons per day.
‘These products demonstrate that it’s possible to produce cinnamon with no lead or extremely low levels,’ Dr Rogers said.
Though several brands pose more risk than others, the FDA and CDC both warn that there is no safe level of lead consumption.
Once consumed, lead can travel throughout the entire body via the blood and take up camp in soft tissues like the kidney, liver or lungs, damaging those organs.
In higher doses, or with frequent exposure, it has been linked to behavioral issues, growth problems and learning difficulties in children.
Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a probable carcinogen, meaning that high exposure is likely to cause cancer, but there is not conclusive evidence yet.
Short-term exposure to lead can result in symptoms that include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia.