Consumer Reports Investigation Finds High Lead Levels in Discount Ground Cinnamon

Watchdog group urges FDA to adopt federal limits on the amount of lead in cinnamon and other spices, which could pose serious health risks for consumers.

Following several cinnamon applesauce recalls issued over the past year, which resulted in widespread reports of lead poisoning among children, a new report suggests that about one-third of all ground-cinnamon spices may contain high levels of lead, posing serious health risks for consumers, especially children.

Consumer Reports published the results of a ground cinnamon investigation earlier this week, finding that 12 out of 36 cinnamon powder products purchased from stores throughout the New York and northeastern U.S. contained toxic levels of lead, which exceeded the recommended daily intake amounts set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The highest concentrations of lead were found in smaller, less well-known products, while major brands like McCormick or Whole Foods were found to have less, Consumer Reports researchers found.

Cinnamon Lead Contamination Concerns

Concerns about contaminated cinnamon surfaced in November 2023, when WanaBana USA issued an apple cinnamon fruit pouch recall, after determining that the applesauce products contained elevated levels of lead. The recall was expanded to include Weis and Schnucks fruit pouches a few weeks later. Since then, hundreds of lead poisoning cases have been identified involving children who ate the products.

Following an investigation earlier this year, the FDA determined that the cinnamon applesauce lead contamination likely stemmed from a processor in Ecuador, named Carlos Aguilera, who may have added lead to cinnamon ingredients intentionally to make them more attractive and profitable.

Over the subsequent months, the FDA also issued several other ground cinnamon warnings for products found to contain elevated lead levels, which were primarily sold at small ethnic markets in New York and nearby areas.

The new Consumer Reports study examined 36 spice products purchased from 17 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and online. A total of 12 products measured above 1 part per million (ppm) of lead, which is the level that triggers a recall in New York, the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals in spices.

According to the group’s findings, Paras, EGN, Mimi’s Products, Bowl & Basket, Rani Brand, Zara Foods, Three Rivers, Badia and Deep brands of cinnamon all tested positive for high levels of lead. In addition, Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng and Spicy Kin brands of five spice powder, which contain ground cinnamon, also tested positive for high levels of lead.

All of the brands contained more than 1 ppm of lead, but Paras and EGN had the highest levels detected, with 3.52 ppm and 2.91 ppm, respectively. As a result of the findings, Consumer Reports is urging consumers to immediately stop using any of the brands that contain more than 1 ppm of lead.

However, Consumer Reports found that ground cinnamon from major retailers appeared to be safer. Brands with low levels of lead included 365 Whole Foods, Loisa Organic, Morton & Bassett and Sadaf brands.

Consumer Reports researchers indicated they shared their findings with New York officials, and the group is now calling for federal limits to be imposed on levels of lead in cinnamon and other spices.

Lead Poisoning Health Effects

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause permanent brain damage or other severe, long-term health consequences, especially to children, who are still developing and often do not show immediate signs or symptoms of lead exposure.

Even short-term lead exposure can cause symptoms like headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia. Long-term exposure can cause irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors and weight loss.

Prior studies have linked childhood lead exposure to changes to the brain’s structural integrity, which can result in cognitive problems and reduced IQ scores later in life. Children can experience long-term brain damage even at low levels of lead exposure.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), there is no safe lead exposure level for children. Any exposure can increase the risk of developing injuries to the nervous system and brain. It can also cause seizures, convulsions, mental retardation, delayed growth, obesity, coma and even death.

Federal health officials warn that anyone who has been exposed to lead should contact their healthcare provider or seek medical attention. Consumers suffering from side effects of lead poisoning should report the symptoms to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting system.