As consumers, we trust that the products we buy are safe to eat. After all, there are regulations in place to protect us, right?
While there are regulations in place to protect us, sometimes food products are recalled due to unfortunate findings — like lead found in the cinnamon many people purchased at the grocery store to season their fall soup or pumpkin bread with.
Recently, the FDA issued an alert about some ground cinnamon products having unsafe levels of lead. We wanted to discuss these findings with you, the dangers of lead exposure, and how we ensure the safety of our spices.
FDA Alert About Cinnamon
Unfortunately, the FDA announced concerns this year about certain ground cinnamon products with elevated levels of lead. Six distributors were named, and the FDA advised consumers to stop using and dispose of these products immediately.
Low levels of lead are common in some spices, especially curry powder, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, chili powder, and masala. Lead may contaminate spices from the soil they were originally planted in or if the facility they were processed in exposed them to lead via older equipment or piping. Some companies add lead for weight or color, which may also lead to higher rates of lead in the product.
The lead concentrations ranged from 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million, which is lower than previous ground cinnamon alerts. No reports of illness or adverse events related to these ground cinnamon products have been reported. However, long-term exposure to lead can lead to problems with time.
Risks of Lead Exposure
Long-term exposure could lead to elevated levels of lead in the blood, which may contribute to adverse health effects.
According to the Mayo Clinic, even small amounts of lead exposure can lead to serious health problems with time, particularly in young children.
Common symptoms of lead poisoning in children include:
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Hearing loss
- Seizures
- Developing pica
- Learning difficulties
- Developmental delay
- Fatigue
In adults, common symptoms of lead poisoning include:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Headaches
- Mood disorders
- Reduced sperm count or abnormal sperm
- High blood pressure
- Abdominal pain
- Miscarriages, stillbirth, or premature birth
Unfortunately, laboratory testing is the only way to tell if a product contains lead, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding any products known to contain lead. So, what are we as consumers to do?
The best steps are to avoid products known to contain lead and only purchase from verified, reputable companies.
How We Vet Our Herb Stop Spices
At Herb Stop, we take vetting our vendors and quality assurance very seriously. Due to the scale of our business, we don’t conduct third-party testing ourselves. Instead, we work exclusively with reputable suppliers who conduct thorough laboratory testing on the raw ingredients. This ensures that we start with the highest-quality botanicals.
Plus, our in-house quality control processes are comprehensive. We adhere to strict standards throughout the production cycle, from ingredient selection to the final packaging.
For example, one of our vendors maintains a modern, in-house laboratory staffed with experienced professionals who complete product analysis with state-of-the-art equipment. Their testing process includes the following:
- ICP-MS heavy metal analysis (checking for things like lead, mercury, or arsenic)
- Microscopic and macroscopic inspection for foreign matters
- Testing for proper appearance, aroma, flavor, and color
- Chemical analyses to assess moisture content, ash, volatile oil, and more
- Microbiology testing for pathogens like salmonella
Similarly, one of our other vendors completes lab audits, including using climate-controlled storage to keep their products as fresh and safe as possible. They also complete organoleptic testing for taste, smell, and sight, as well as microbiological testing for yeast, mold, bacteria, and pathogens.
Looking at our many vendors and their processes, these aren’t uncommon steps. Many are USDA Certified Organic, which requires the organic farm or business to undergo annual reviews and inspections to ensure the applicant meets the USDA organic regulations.
Vendor Certifications
Many of our vendors are certified with the highest standards for product safety, such as:
- cGMP Compliance: cGMP, or current Good Manufacturing Practices, has strict regulations for the methods, controls, and facilities used for manufacturing, processing, and packing products. According to the FDA, FDA assessors and investigators have to determine whether the company meets these standards, is safe to use, and (critically) has the ingredients and strengths that the product claims to have.
- The American National Standards Institute/National Sanitation Foundation International Dietary Supplement Standards: These standards ensure the products and herbs are tested thoroughly for arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury using third-party laboratories for the greatest level of transparency. The National Sanitation Foundation, also known as the Public Health and Safety Organization, is a nonprofit testing agency that was the nation’s first independent testing standard. One of the most important parts of their testing is looking for harmful levels of contaminants, like lead, and checking that the label matches the ingredients in the product.
- Third-party testing: Having independent, third-party laboratories complete tests on our vendors’ products is a huge part of ensuring the quality of the products.
Please reach out if you have any specific concerns or questions about our products. We take pride in delivering exceptional herbal products that meet the highest quality and safety standards.
What we put in our bodies impacts our health, and we strive to provide the highest-quality products so you never have to worry about low-quality ingredients in your family’s food or drinks.
Well Wishes,
Herbalist Natalie
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Natalie Hajdu-Voakes is a consulting Herbalist with over 27 years of hands-on experience and the owner of The Herb Stop. |