Study of lead levels in major cinnamon brands shows 'alarming' results

Twelve cinnamon powders are on the “never use” list after food safety scientists researched lead levels.

Consumer Reports revealed that their tests of 36 ground cinnamon products and spice mixes containing cinnamon showed that a third of them “measured above 1 part per million of lead—the threshold that triggered a recall in New York, the only US state that regulates it. The spice is heavy on metal.”

Consumer Reports called the findings “disturbing” because the results “raised concerns for our experts, and we shared our data with New York officials so they could investigate further.”

The “do not use” list includes: Paras Cinnamon Powder, EGN Cinnamon Powder, Mimi's Products Ground Cinnamon, Bowl & Basket Ground Cinnamon, Zara Foods Cinnamon Powder, Three Rivers Cinnamon Stick Powder, Yu Ye Brand Five Spice Powder, Bailifeng Five Spice Powder, Spicy King Five Spice Powder, Badia Cinnamon Powder, Rani Brand and Deep Cinnamon Powder.

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The tests, which looked at products purchased from 17 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and online. The outbreak of lead poisoning in more than 500 children came after “cinnamon was found in three brands of apple puree pouches,” Consumer Reports said.

Shortly after the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to avoid various ground cinnamon products that contained high levels of lead.

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Wannabana recalled its apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches in October 2023, although Dollar Tree did not remove the product from all its shelves until December, according to the FDA. (FDA ex post)

“If you have one of these products, we think you should throw it away,” James Rogers, PhD, CR's director of food safety research and testing, said in the report. “Even small amounts of lead pose a risk because, over time, it can accumulate in the body and remain there for years, seriously damaging health.”

The makers of two of the 12 products on the “do not use” list, Paras and EGN cinnamon powder, said the products would be removed from the market, according to Consumer Reports. Deep and Yue stated that they tested their products or relied on tests from their suppliers.

Fox Business attempted to contact the makers of Badia, Mimi's Products, Three Rivers, Rani Brand and Bowl & Basket, but they did not immediately respond. Attempts to reach Zara, Bailifeng and Spicy King were unsuccessful.

According to Consumer Reports, several popular store brands were deemed acceptable. Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Saigon Cinnamon, Walmart's Great Value Ground Cinnamon and Trader Joe's Organic Ground Cinnamon were among 18 products on the “OK to Use” list, while Whole Foods' 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Cinnamon and Organic Ground Cinnamon were the six “OK to Use,” Their organic ground cinnamon has the lowest lead at just 0.02 parts per million.

Side effects of high lead exposure in children include permanent damage to the central nervous system, leading to learning disorders, developmental defects and other long-term health problems, the FDA said in a previous press release.

Several brands of cinnamon powder are facing scrutiny after a new report claims they contain high levels of lead. (FDA/Fox News)

According to the FDA, adults suffering from chronic lead exposure may be at risk for kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure and neurocognitive effects.

According to Laura Shumo, executive director of the American Spice Trade Association, lead is a naturally occurring element in the Earth's crust. Because cinnamon comes from the inner bark of cinnamon trees exposed to soil and groundwater, it “has the potential to take up an amount of lead that cannot be removed,” Shumov said, adding that there is no way to remove lead. When cinnamon is present

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Lead can also get into cinnamon from processing equipment, storage containers and packaging, Rogers said.

Fox Business' Daniela Genovese contributed to this report.