The festive season is around the corner and reports of food adulteration have started making headlines. Many spice blends and cinnamon powder across 12 popular Indian spice brands are under scrutiny because traces of lead have been found. Thus, authorities and consumers are concerned about health ailments like heart, liver, and kidney disorders.
Video Credit: Chef Ranveer Brar/ YouTube
Cinnamon, or dal chini in Hindi, is a crucial whole spice that is not only used in gravies to enhance flavour but also in desserts and beverages. Ayurveda says that it has many medical qualities that can help in the prevention of diseases. The spice is also loaded with antioxidants and has muscle-relaxing benefits.
Many spice blends along with cinnamon powder have been alleged to have high amounts of lead contamination. The 12 brands that are under scrutiny because of Consumer Reports include EGN, Three Rivers, Paras, Yu Yee Brand, Bdia, Mimi’s Products, Deep, Rani Brand, BaiLiFeng, Bowl & Basket, Spicy King, and Zara Foods.
High Amount Of Lead In Spices
While there is the smallest amount of lead that a person can consume in a day. However, spice blends from the aforementioned brands allegedly contain a high amount of lead. James Rogers, Director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports, reportedly said that a quarter teaspoon of these mixtures contain more lead than what a human body should consume in a day.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, 12.5 micrograms per day is the ideal amount of lead consumption for an adult. The right amount to be consumed by infants and children in a day is 0.5 μg/dl.
However, the report stated that the tested spice blends from the aforementioned brand were found to contaminated with more than 1 part per million (ppm) lead. This is the threshold mark used by New York state to recall products from the market. Thus, the experts of Consumer Reports have suggested avoiding these blends in the market.
It is a no-brainer that the consumption of even a small amount of lead in a day can lead to its accumulation in the human body over time. It can be poisonous and lead to many health issues among children, infants, elders, healthy adults, and pregnant women.