Concerns over elevated lead levels have prompted multiple recalls of ground cinnamon products over the last year. Now, a new Consumer Reports analysis is warning that the issue may be even more widespread than we thought. So if you’re a regular drinker of cinnamon water or cinnamon-spiced coffee (or plan to bake with the spice this fall), listen up.
Consumer Reports researchers analyzed 36 products containing ground cinnamon to see if elevated lead levels were exclusive to just a few brands or if the issue was more extensive. They published their findings today, describing them as “troubling.”
What the report found
Out of the 36 products tested, 12 were found to contain lead levels above 1 part per million—enough to trigger a recall in New York state (the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals like lead in spices).
Based on the analysis, Consumer Reports is discouraging the use of the following products:
- Cinnamon powder from the brands Paras, EGN, Zara Foods, Badia, and Deep
- Ground cinnamon from the brands Mimi’s Products, bowl & basket (the ShopRite brand), and Rani Brand
- Five spice powder from Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng, and Spicy King
- Cinnamon stick powder made by Three Rivers
The report also listed dozens of cinnamon products that did not test high for lead. Among those on the list were notable brands including Great Value (sold at Walmart), Kirkland Signature (sold at Costco), Trader Joe’s, McCormick, and Good & Gather (sold at Target).
Consumer Reports shared its findings with the companies that manufacture the products they assessed. Both Paras and EGN—the two companies with the highest lead levels—indicated that they would ask stores to remove their products from shelves after learning the results.
Growing concerns about cinnamon safety
These results add to increasing worries about the safety of cinnamon, which is a staple spice in many households.
Last fall, a lead poisoning outbreak in hundreds of children triggered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recall a slew of cinnamon-flavored apple puree packages. That prompted the agency to carry out a targeted survey of ground cinnamon products sold at discount retail stores to test additional samples for lead. The results of that analysis led to another recall of several other ground cinnamon products in March of this year. And on August 29, hundreds of packets of Asli Cinnamon Powder were also recalled for concerns over lead contamination.
Lead can get into cinnamon products in a few different ways. Lower levels may be absorbed from water or soil when the cinnamon tree is growing, per PBS. But according to a report in The Washington Post, cinnamon manufacturers may also intentionally add lead chromate to enhance the color or weight of the product. That coverage also notes that organizations like UNICEF are advocating for more strict regulations around lead in our food supply.
Long-term lead exposure is linked to health issues including anemia, high blood pressure, renal impairment, fertility issues, and more, as well as neurological and behavioral issues, which could be irreversible, according to the World Health Organization. Young children are especially susceptible to negative health effects from lead—even low levels are linked to developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How concerned should I be?
It’s important to note that there’s no FDA-sanctioned level of “safe” lead consumption—which means we don’t know whether or not these products are a true cause for concern, especially in small doses. Still, Consumer Reports recommends throwing away the affected products and switching to a better-tested brand, like one above.
Of course, if you’re concerned that you or your child may have consumed a product with high lead levels, contact your doctor about next steps.
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