High Lead Levels Found in Ground Cinnamon Products

Did you know that a third of the cinnamon powders tested by Consumer Reports had high lead levels? Yes, that’s right!

According to testing released by Consumer Reports, high levels of lead were found in 12 brands of ground cinnamon products and spice mixtures. This discovery comes after the Food and Drug Administration previously warned against 17 ground cinnamon products due to unsafe lead levels, especially for children.

Out of the 36 items tested, 12 had lead levels above 1 part per million, with Paras Cinnamon Powder containing the highest lead levels at 3.52 ppm. A quarter teaspoon of any of these products was found to contain more lead than what a person should consume in an entire day.

Consumer Reports advised people to avoid the following products with high lead levels: EGN Cinnamon Powder, Mimi’s Products Ground Cinnamon, Bowl & Basket Ground Cinnamon, Rani Brand Ground Cinnamon, Zara Foods Cinnamon Powder, Three Rivers Cinnamon Stick Powder, Yu Yee Brand Five Spice Powder, BaiLiFeng Five Spice Powder, Spicy King Five Spices Powder, Badia Cinnamon Powder, and Deep Cinnamon Powder.

James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, recommended throwing away any of the mentioned products if you have them. On the bright side, Consumer Reports also highlighted six cinnamon products with the lowest risk in their tests, such as 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Cinnamon and Sadaf Cinnamon Powder.

Following a recall of lead-tainted cinnamon applesauce pouches in 2023, the FDA conducted a targeted survey of cinnamon products sold in discount stores. While the FDA monitors food for lead levels, there are currently no broad limits on lead in food products in the US.

It’s crucial to stay informed about the products you consume, especially when it comes to spices like cinnamon. Safety should always be a top priority!

The Associated Press contributed to this report.