We all have a fondness for cinnamon, whether it’s in our lattes, cinnamon rolls, apple pies or tea. As we eagerly look forward to the fall season and its collection of treats, we must now deal with the unsettling news of lead contamination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its third recall notice for cinnamon products due to lead contamination, prompting us to reconsider our cinnamon consumption.
Recently, the FDA determined that certain cinnamon products sold in the U.S. contain unacceptable lead levels. Although we have heard of lead exposure from materials in older homes, such as ceramics, plumbing and paint, lead contamination in food products usually does not come to mind.
However, lead can be introduced at each level during the cultivation, harvesting and manufacturing of spices. Lead is present in air, soil and water. Pollution, often an accumulation of industrial waste and use, can contribute to lead contamination. When manufacturing plants improperly eliminate, the waste can seep through groundwater and contaminate the soil used for many plants. The manufacturing mechanisms can also bring about lead contamination.
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Even more concerning, spices may often be mixed with substances containing lead to enhance desirable traits, such as color or aroma. Lead is not the only metal that can be introduced to food items; arsenic and cadmium have also been discovered.
Because lead is present everywhere and can be unknowingly introduced, the spice industry employs strategies to minimize contamination. It is nearly impossible to remove all traces of lead in food products. The FDA has not set a limit for heavy metals, such as lead, in spices. Other groups, such as the American Spice Trade Association, have studied the topic and reviewed global standards for lead limits.
Like the European Union, the American Spice Trade Association published a guidance paper in 2023 establishing two parts per million as the upper limit of acceptable levels for bark spices, one of which is cinnamon.
Most patients with initial lead poisoning will not experience harmful effects. However, children are uniquely vulnerable to developmental delays and learning disorders from prolonged exposure. Poisoning over time can lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, anemia, fatigue, and, in severe cases, weight loss.
How can you stay safe while using cinnamon? Buy from companies that are open about their production process. Monitor the FDA list on cinnamon recall alerts. Visit FDA.gov and click on Food and then Recalls to access suggested company recalls of food items. The FDA works with state programs testing spices for heavy metal contamination.
Several recall notices have been on the FDA list; the most recent was published on July 30 and applies to cinnamon. There, you will also find specific products to avoid, which contain elevated levels of lead, ranging from 2.03 to 7.01 parts per million. The FDA advisory acknowledges that no serious illnesses have been reported from the brands listed; however, because of the long time it takes for lead accumulation — months to years — symptoms, when finally noticed, may reflect advanced poisoning. Remember that there are plenty of safe alternatives for cinnamon. With fall around the corner, we can make this a safe holiday and continue to enjoy our tasty treats!
Dr. Naznin Jamal is a Jefferson Regional Medical Center hospitalist.