Lead present in your cinnamon if you use these 12 products in US; Check full list and side effects here

Amid rising concerns on food safety, a new report has revealed one dozen of 36 cinnamon products contain elevated levels of lead. The study, by Consumer Reports, documented levels that were far lower than the amounts discovered last year.

The team who revealed alarming details showed 12 items sold at discount stores and ethnic markets contain lead levels reaching 3.5 parts per million. New York, the only state with strict lead standards for spices, has issued a recall for various spices, including curry powder, chili powder, cumin, and five-spice powder, if they contain more than 1 part per million of lead. Consumer Reports recommends discarding any spices that meet or exceed this threshold.

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 added further.


“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 added.

Among the 12 brands that fared the worst in testing, the highest levels of lead were detected in Paras cinnamon powder (3.52 ppm) and EGN cinnamon powder (2.91 ppm).

What are the side effects of consuming such products:
Exposure to lead is of greatest concern in children and during pregnancy because it can damage the brain and nervous system, causing developmental delays, learning and behavior problems, and more. However, adults can also experience negative effects. For example, frequent lead exposure has been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive issues, kidney damage, and hypertension.

What to do now?
Buy cinnamon with the lowest lead levels in CR’s tests.
Consider sticking with mainstream brands. Of the 12 cinnamon products
Don’t rely on labels like “organic” or rely on where the cinnamon comes from.
Be cautious about bringing cinnamon home from travels abroad.
Be wary of taking cinnamon as a health aid.