Dangerous levels of lead in popular cinnamon [View all]

Consumer Reports found high lead levels in a third of the cinnamon powders and spice mixtures we tested. Here are the ones that pose the most and least risk.

The findings were troubling: 12 of the 36 products measured above 1 part per million of lead—the threshold that triggers a recall in New York, the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals in spices. While CR does not do compliance testing, the results raised concerns for our experts, and we shared our data with New York officials so that they could investigate further.

Just a quarter teaspoon of any of those products has more lead than you should consume in an entire day, says James Rogers, PhD, the director of food safety research and testing at CR. “If you have one of those products, we think you should throw it away,” he says.

“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,” Rogers says.


https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/high-lead-levels-in-cinnamon-powders-and-spice-mixtures-a4542246475/