Why Spices Can Contain Lead—and How to Avoid It
When you reach for a bottle of cinnamon, turmeric, or chili powder to add flavor to your meals, you’re likely not thinking about toxic lead. But recent investigations have shown that many spices on the market can contain harmful levels of lead.
This issue raises concerns for both health-conscious shoppers and culinary enthusiasts alike. Lead exposure, even in small amounts, can be harmful, especially to children and pregnant women. So, why does lead show up in spices, and how can you protect yourself and your family?
Why Do Spices Contain Lead?
Lead contamination in everyday spices often comes from the soil where the plants are grown or from the processing methods used. Here are some of the main reasons why spices may contain lead:
Soil Contamination: Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that can remain in soil for years. In areas with high industrial activity or in soils near old infrastructure, lead can accumulate. Spices grown in these regions may absorb lead from the soil, which then ends up in our spice bottles.
Tainted Processing: Some spice suppliers use contaminated water or machinery that has been in contact with lead. In certain cases, lead can also be deliberately added during the drying or processing phases to enhance the color of the spice, particularly in products like turmeric, chili powder, and paprika. This practice is most common in regions where regulatory standards may be not strictly enforced.
Adulteration with Cheap Fillers: In some countries, low-quality spices may be adulterated with lead-based substances (like lead chromate) to artificially brighten the color of the spice or increase its weight. Turmeric, for example, is sometimes adulterated with lead-based compounds to make it appear more vibrant.
Health Risks of Lead Exposure
Even small amounts of lead can accumulate in the body over time and lead to poisoning. Chronic exposure can have serious health consequences, particularly for young children and pregnant women.
Lead poisoning can cause developmental delays, brain damage, and learning disabilities in children, while pregnant women may face an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and developmental problems for the baby.
For adults, long-term exposure may lead to high blood pressure, kidney damage, or even a weakened immune system. Because lead is stored in the bones and organs, the effects may not show up immediately but can be cumulative over years.
The Best Spice Brands to Choose
When it comes to selecting safer spices, here are some brands known for their quality control and transparency: However, it can change from batch to batch. Always keep aware of current testing through organizations such as Consumer Reports.
Penzeys Spices: A trusted brand known for its high standards and wide selection of spices. Penzeys is committed to ethical sourcing and quality, and they test their products for contaminants.
McCormick: As one of the largest spice producers in the world, McCormick has stringent quality control measures in place. They regularly test their products for lead and other contaminants to ensure they meet safety standards.
Frontier Co-op: Known for its organic spices, Frontier Co-op offers a wide range of ethically sourced products. Their commitment to organic farming and third-party testing helps ensure the safety of their spices.
Simply Organic: Another organic-focused brand, Simply Organic has a strong reputation for producing high-quality, contaminant-free spices. They are certified organic, meaning they adhere to strict regulations regarding pesticide use and heavy metal contamination.
The Spice House: This family-owned business has earned a reputation for offering fresh, high-quality spices. The Spice House is committed to sourcing spices from trusted farmers, and many of their products are organic or tested for contaminants.
The Biggest Offenders: Spices with the Highest Risk of Lead Contamination
While lead can be found in any spice, some spices are more likely to be contaminated. These include:
Turmeric: Turmeric is one of the most commonly found spices with high levels of lead contamination. Its bright yellow color makes it a target for adulteration, with some suppliers using lead chromate to intensify the color.
Chili Powder & Paprika: Both chili powder and paprika are at risk for lead contamination due to their vibrant red colors. Some suppliers use lead-based substances to enhance the color and weight of these spices.
Cumin & Coriander: Although less common than turmeric and chili powder, cumin and coriander can also contain trace amounts of lead, particularly when sourced from regions with less stringent agricultural regulations.
Curry Powder: Curry powder, which is a blend of several spices, can also contain turmeric, chili powder, and other ingredients that may be tainted with lead.
RECALL
In Florida Badia is a common brand sold in most supermarkets. Badia cinnamon and ground ginger have been recalled in New York.
RecallIn June 2024, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets recalled certain Badia Spices ground ginger and ground cinnamon products due to high levels of lead. The products were sold in multiple retailers across New York State. Consumers were advised to not consume the products and to discard them immediately.
READ CONSUMER REPORTS FOR UPDATES ON Spices
Consumer Reports with specific testing
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Cocoa Powder and Other Chocolate Products
From the article: "Some good options for snacking that are relatively low in both heavy metals are 365 Whole Foods Market Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips, Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, and Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels."
You gotta read these articles: very scary especially for kids
Trader Joe's Organic Hot Cocoa Mix Serving size: 1 envelope
LEAD112%CADMIUM88%
"Don’t assume some brands are safer than others. CR’s tests could not determine whether one brand was consistently better or worse than any other. And organic products did not have consistently lower levels than conventionally grown ones. While that might surprise some, CR’s Ronholm says the USDA’s organic standards don’t include heavy metal testing." (From Consumer Reports) List of spices in article
It seems quite sad that the average householder is compelled to be a detective. What have we done to our food supply?
ReplyDeleteI agree David. Very sad!
DeleteWOW, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Melynda. We all need to be aware.
DeleteI usually buy the whole seeds and grind them myself. These days you can't even trust the labels.
ReplyDeleteIt's frightening to realise how many contaminants may be in the things we buy. We all need to be more aware.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was not aware until I read Consumer Reports. Who knew?
DeleteSo important to know this info. Thank you, as always!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome
DeleteYikes! Yet another thing that is good to be aware of concerning our foods. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteSo scary that our government agencies don't test for heavy metals.
DeleteSo much good and helpful information here. I have read and saved all the articles you listed. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Julia
DeleteWe have very strict food controls regarding labelling here, so we know what's in our food. Great advice about reading labels and buying whole spices.
ReplyDeleteTandy | Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com
You are fortunate . We have no idea what we are eating here.
DeleteThis is fascinating (and a little scary) and something about which I had no idea. Thanks for sharing the info and also the more reputable brands.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a lot scary. Some of the common cinnamon is not recommended to eat by children or pregnant woman at all.
DeleteThis is very scary and interesting! Good to know. I love Penzey's and they are my preferred spice company so I was happy to see they are a good one!
ReplyDeleteI buy all of my herbs/spices that I don't grow myself from Mountain Rose Herbs. It is scary how much research we have to do to feed ourselves isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMountain Rose is a good source.
Deletei read the same post...thanks for doing all the research for us!!
ReplyDeleteI had never read it ... I was so shocked.
DeleteThank you Judee, this is quite shocking! Thank you for this important information.
ReplyDeleteJenna
You are welcome
Deletevery, very, very good post. Super useful. Thank you bunches. PSi I don't know if true or not, someone said that Aldi spices are McCormick. Only sold for less. I've no way to confirm that. Anyway, thank you for the list.
ReplyDeleteInteresting..
DeleteMany thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteWe all have to be very careful in what we buy and use.
All the best Jan
I agree.
DeleteOh, how awful! I've purchased Badia cinnamon in the past but will never do so again! As always, thanks so much for keeping us in the know so that we can stay healthy. Also, (from your comment on my post), I love that you have a thing for acorns and that your memories of collecting them as a kid are still with you. It's always nice reflect on the cute and cozy! 🍁😁🍂
ReplyDeleteI too bought it and had no idea. Consumer Reports seems to be a good source for all foods.
DeleteThese days you can't trust anything. But I mostly grind my own spices (not turmeric or red chili powder, though). It takes effort but I don't mind doing.
ReplyDeleteGrinding your own may be best
DeleteWow, this is pretty scary! I use a lot of the spices you have listed. Something to look out for.
ReplyDeleteI am SHOCKED! I do believe I have one of their spices in my rack at the moment, so I guarantee I’m going to get rid of that. I had no idea. Like you, I’m guessing a lot of people don’t have any idea. We really need to put a stop to this. I really appreciate this blog post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh wow!!! who would have ever thought? thank you for posting this information and I am going to pass this along to my daughters and granddaughters. I honestly think that there are sooooo many things in our food sources that make us sick. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteIt's scary to think of what we unknowingly consume each day. We've really bungled our food supply. I do like Simply Organic spices. I try to buy most of my spices without the binders in them that keep them from clumping because of my autoimmune disease (those binders are bad for those with IBD) and Simply Organic is one I buy the most. McCormick is second though if I can't find what I need from Simply Organic, so it's good to know that they have stringent testing guidelines they follow.
ReplyDelete