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    • Lead in cinnamon? There are also concerns about lead in other products.
    Massachusetts

    Lead in cinnamon? There are also concerns about lead in other products.

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    Several companies said this week they would stop selling cinnamon products after Consumer Reports magazine discovered items contaminated with lead.

    The consumer protection organization found traces of lead in cinnamon powder and spice powders from a dozen brands. Consumer Reports used a limit of 1 ppm, which New York State uses for product recalls. Food safety experts at the nonprofit advised people to “avoid these products.”

    The companies include Paras, EGN, Mimi’s Products, Bowl & Basket, Rani Brand, Zara Foods, Three Rivers, Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng, Spicy King, Badia and Deep. It is unclear how elevated lead levels in the products came about.

    However, the powders are not the only products that contain lead, a neurotoxin that can be harmful at any concentration. The regulation of lead in food and other everyday products is a growing concern, especially as traditional sources of lead such as paint, gasoline and pipes have declined significantly.

    How does lead get into food?

    Lead occurs naturally, but how it gets into food is complicated. In a globalized economy, the United States often imports food, especially spices. These products can be sourced from countries where there are fewer regulations. Lead is used to make food look more appealing, but nearby industrial operations can also contaminate water and soil used for farming.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not respond to an email request for comment on the Consumer Reports findings.

    Other foods with current concerns about lead

    • In March, the FDA announced that tests on six products containing ground cinnamon had found elevated levels of lead.
    • In April, a separate report from Consumer Reports magazine recommended removing Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program because of high sodium and lead levels. However, the product’s maker called this misleading and said its products comply with regulations.
    • In November, WanaBana recalled cinnamon applesauce products. The company sourced cinnamon from Ecuador that was contaminated with lead chromate, an additive designed to whiten the spice. In the U.S., there have been at least 500 cases of children eating the snack and having elevated lead levels.

    Why is lead dangerous?

    Lead is of particular concern because children absorb it more easily than adults, whether they inhale it, swallow it, or touch it. Children with iron deficiency, a condition more common in premature or low birth weight babies, absorb even more lead.

    High concentrations of lead can cause seizures, coma and death. But even at low concentrations, lead can cause behavioral problems, IQ loss and attention deficit disorder. In children, it can also cause growth problems and hearing or speech impairments.

    Regulation of lead in plumbing, paint, and gasoline has led to a sharp decline in lead exposure in children in the United States. In addition, Medicaid covers the cost of blood tests to detect lead in children, and many private insurers do the same. In 1988, more than a quarter of all children under 5 had elevated blood lead levels. In 2014, that number was 2%.

    Certain communities are still at higher risk for lead exposure, including children of color, immigrants and refugees, families in poverty and people in older homes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the changing nature of exposure – through food or other household items – reaffirms that everyone is at risk.

    USA TODAY’s Jonathan Limehouse contributed to this report.

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    Idris Bevan
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