Food safety scientists at Consumer Reports have a warning for consumers who purchase ground cinnamon: Depending on the brand you bought, it might be time to throw it out.
One-third of 36 tested ground cinnamon products and spice blends containing cinnamon had high levels of lead, defined as 1 part per million of lead, according to recent CR tests.
Significant lead exposure can result in lead poisoning, a condition that causes chronic and debilitating health conditions, especially during pregnancy and in young children whose nervous systems are still developing.
Children may struggle cognitively or develop behavioral issues due to lead exposure. Adults can suffer reproductive problems, kidney damage, suppression of the immune system and high blood pressure.
CR notes that just one-quarter teaspoon of the cinnamon that tested high for levels of lead contains more of the metal than anyone should consume in a day. In a summary of the findings, James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at CR, says:
“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.”
According to CR, the products that tested high in lead and should not be consumed are:
- Paras Cinnamon Powder
- EGN Cinnamon Powder
- Mimi’s Products Ground Cinnamon
- Bowl & Basket Ground Cinnamon
- Rani Brand Ground Cinnamon
- Zara Foods Cinnamon Powder
- Three Rivers Cinnamon Stick Powder
- Yu Yee Brand Five Spice Powder
- BaiLiFeng Five Spice Powder
- Spicy King Five Spices Powder
- Badia Cinnamon Powder
- Deep Cinnamon Powder
On the other hand, the following six products were deemed the best to use:
- Sadaf Seven Spice
- 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Cinnamon
- Loisa Organic Cinnamon
- Morton & Bassett San Francisco 100% Organic Ground Cinnamon
- Sadaf Cinnamon Powder
- 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Cinnamon
Most of the other products tested were deemed “okay to use.” They include store-brand offerings from major retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s.
CR’s test results prompted swift reactions from a few cinnamon manufacturers. Paras and EGN — which had the highest lead levels — told CR they would stop selling their products.
Lead is often found in cinnamon because it is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. In addition, industrial byproducts can contaminate soil and groundwater with lead.
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of trees in the Cinnamomum genus. It takes these trees a decade or more to grow, which means there is plenty of time for the trees to absorb lead from the soil.
Almost all cinnamon is imported, often from countries with lax regulations regarding chemical contaminants and spotty enforcement of existing rules.
To learn about other potential hazards of cinnamon, check out “This Supplement Could Be Undermining Your Prescriptions, Study Finds.”
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