Posted on 09/16/2024 1:56:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The disturbing new report found contamination in several brands.
Ground cinnamon has come under fire lately, with the Food and Drug Administration recalling several products in March due to elevated levels of lead. Now, a new investigation from Consumer Reports finds that there’s still an issue with lead in ground cinnamon — and your go-to brand could be putting your health at risk.
For the report, food safety scientists analyzed 36 ground cinnamon products — in addition to spice blends that contain cinnamon — for the presence of lead. The researchers discovered that 12 of the 36 products tested measured above 1 part per million, which would trigger a recall in New York — the only state that regulates heavy metals in spices. But several other cinnamon products had lead levels that Consumer Reports says are concerning enough for you to limit your use, and some are from big-name brands.
FDA Issues Alert for 6 Brands of Ground Cinnamon Due to Elevated Lead Levels
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and acting head of product safety testing at Consumer Reports, says that the company decided to test lead levels in cinnamon after the FDA’s recall of both ground cinnamon and cinnamon-flavored applesauce products over the past few years. “That told us that there’s something going on in cinnamon,” he says.
So, which products should you avoid and why is this concerning? Here’s what we know, based on the findings.
Which products had the most lead?
Consumer Reports made a point to test both popular products you can get at your local grocery store and ground cinnamon from specialty shops. “Most of the contamination came from products that were purchased from smaller brands and stores,” Rogers says. Those include:
Paras cinnamon powder (3.52 ppm)
EGN cinnamon powder (2.91 ppm)
Mimi’s Products ground cinnamon (2.03 ppm)
Bowl & Basket ground cinnamon (1.82 ppm)
Rani Brand ground cinnamon (1.39 ppm)
Zara Foods cinnamon powder (1.27 ppm)
Three Rivers cinnamon stick powder (1.26 ppm)
Yu Yee Brand five spice powder (1.25 ppm)
BaiLiFeng five spice powder (1.15 ppm)
Spicy King five spices powder (1.05 ppm)
Badia cinnamon powder (1.03 ppm)
Deep cinnamon powder (1.02 ppm)
Which brands were the safest?
Only six products were deemed the best to use, based on the findings. They include:
365 Whole Food Market organic ground cinnamon (0.02 ppm)
Loisa organic cinnamon (0.04 ppm)
Morton & Bassett San Francisco 100% organic ground cinnamon (0.04 ppm)
Sadaf cinnamon powder (0.04 ppm)
365 Whole Foods Market ground cinnamon (0.12 ppm)
Sadaf seven spice (0.15 ppm)
It’s important to note that Consumer Reports also found that some products landed in a middle ground that didn’t make them unsafe to use — but also didn’t classify them as being the safest. (The organization specifically labels them as “okay to use,” provided consumption is kept at a minimum.)
Those included well-known brands like:
McCormick ground cinnamon (0.23 ppm)
Simply Organic cinnamon (0.28 ppm)
Bassett San Francisco ground cinnamon (0.55 ppm)
Good & Gather ground cinnamon (0.56 ppm)
Trader Joe organic ground cinnamon (0.69 ppm)
Great Value ground cinnamon (0.79 ppm)
Kirkland Signature organic Saigon cinnamon (0.80 ppm)
How does lead end up in cinnamon?
There are a few different ways lead can wind up in cinnamon. “Lead can be present in the soil where cinnamon is grown, especially in countries with heavy industrial activity or where leaded gasoline and pesticides were once used,” says Darin Detwiler, L.P.D., an associate teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. “Plants can absorb lead from contaminated soil or water.”
Lead can also find its way into cinnamon during the production, drying, and grinding process, Detwiler says. “Equipment or facilities contaminated with lead can introduce it into the final product,” he explains. “Improper quality controls can allow this contamination to go undetected.”
Some types of cinnamon may even be stored in containers or packages that contain lead, which could lead to contamination, Rogers says. “There are a number of ways contamination can happen, but probably the most likely reason is where the cinnamon is grown and how it’s irrigated,” he says.
Just how concerning is lead in cinnamon?
One important thing to remember is that there is no known safe level of exposure to lead, per the FDA. Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, calls the findings “concerning, particularly given the fact that ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon contains enough lead to exceed the recommended daily amounts for some brands.”
The biggest concern is for children, Alan says. “Lead interferes with neural development, and exposure in children can lead to neurodevelopmental issues, including ADHD,” she says. (Alan notes that lead is still a concern for adults, but exposure to children is particularly worrying.)
“That said, the amount of lead varies considerably among the brands tested,” Alan says. “Also, you need to consider the cumulative amount of exposure. If you eat a Snickerdoodle or even two at a family gathering, that is likely OK. If you are eating two packages of cinnamon applesauce daily, that makes me more concerned.”
Still, lead builds up in the body over time. “Even low levels in cinnamon powder could contribute to long-term health risks if consumed regularly,” Detwiler says.
What you can do to prevent lead poisoning
Rogers says it’s important not to panic over the report’s findings. “But become an informed consumer,” he says. “Buy the cinnamon that has the lowest amount of contamination demonstrated by our study and others.” If you’re at the store and are unsure of what to purchase, he recommends that you “stick with the big-name brands,” given that these were less likely to have higher levels of lead.
It’s also a good idea to use different spices, when you can, says Leigh A. Frame, Ph.D., associate director of the George Washington University Resiliency & Well-being Center. “It’s wise to diversify your diet to avoid repeated exposure to potentially contaminated sources of any one food, including spices like cinnamon,” she says.
But Alan agrees that it’s important to put the findings in perspective. “While this can pose health concerns, the typical person is likely not consuming enough cinnamon to have any lasting impact,” she says. “That said, if your child is regularly consuming something containing cinnamon, it’s worth checking the source and asking your healthcare provider about testing for lead exposure and toxicity.”
I left out french toast.
Not for Consumer Reports. This is their lifeblood.
same thing I was thinking
quote “It’s important to note that Consumer Reports also found that some products landed in a middle ground that didn’t make them unsafe to use”
safest based on what? basically they said anything but organic was unsafe. Total bs.
Exactly all this discussion of “parts per million” seems designed to obfuscate the threat level.
I suspect it’s another one of those cases where you would have to consume an entire container of cinnamon every day for years in order to be in any danger.
Go to Bass Pro Shop and pick up some split shot. It’s in their vitamin and mineral section.
So.... everywhere on planet earth?
Whew! I lucked out again. I never eat more than 2 1/2 boxcar loads of cranberries in one sitting.
Unfortunately I do sprinkle it with 1/4 teaspoon of the worst cinnamon there is per boxcar load.
Both Costco and Walmart made the ‘safe’ list, so that’s good! Glad to see ‘your’ McCormick was A-OK, too.
If I don’t buy the Saigon (Vietnam) Cinnamon from The Spice House out of Milwaukee, I will buy the Kirkland Signature organic Saigon cinnamon at Costco.
If you’ve ever had the Saigon Cinnamon, you’ll never want another. It’s THAT good, IMHO. :)
The brand I happen to have isn’t even listed, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to think.
I heard the Saigon cinnamon was that good. Thx.
There are clearly many I would not want to be denied lead. The Clintons come to mind. Fauci. Etc.
Dump it.
See post #29 for a fresh batch before Fall/Winter Baking Season. :)
I guess so, since I like cinnamon on foods like apple sauce and oatmeal. I should try it on toast and butter like TribalPrincess2U. I don’t shop at Costco, but I can make the trek to Whole Foods.
Grind your own Cinnamon Bark!
Depends what the definition of minimum is.
I made a sweet potato bread this morning and sprinkled some cinnamon into the batter. Couldn't say how much since I don't measure anything and then there's the matter of how many slices in the loaf. The egg wasn't free range, the flour wasn't organic and I know for certain our well water isn't the best. Well, the slice I had was put on a plastic saucer and got sassy with it by spreading on some chemical ladened margarine that came in a plastic container. Yeah, those plastic nano particles in the toxic diet coke bottle I opened. Haven't had any cokes for months and this bottle was past the best use date so does that mean there is more plastic? Oh, just noticed I'm drinking it out of a plastic cup. And then there's the rice for dinner. Ack, good thing I rinsed it not the recommended 3 times but 4 times. It is said to have an unknown amount of arsenic in it which comes from the soil it was grown in. Hmm, root veg are likely to have arsenic in them so, of course, we also had carrots for dinner. Ack, for lunch it was bortsch aka beet soup with carrots and onions. Blah, you can rinse veggies all day and you're not going to get out even 10%. How much radiation or whatever is this 'puter sending out? Death or taxes. Think I'm going to have another slice of sweet potato bread and raise the 'ol blood sugar.
Ditto. Saigon cinnamon is the best, preferred by professional chefs and bakers. Highest quality.
When red dye #whatever was in the headlines back in the 70’s, our science teacher said you’d have to eat a train car full of red lipstick for it to have any affect. Guessing that’s the case here along with most everything that’s going to kill us. Well, Boar’s Head products may be an exception.
Who didn’t play with the mercury that came out of broken (accidentally or on purpose) thermometers.
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