By Morayo Ogunbayo | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the end of summer turns into autumn, you may be starting to prepare your favorite fall desserts, like apple pies or pumpkin spice cookies. These sweets, like most around this season, include the use of cinnamon to give them that subtle kick. However, you may want to think twice about using your go-to cinnamon brand this year.
A new investigation from Consumer Reports found high lead levels in 12 of 36 cinnamon brands they tested.
Their investigation comes after the lead poisoning of 500 children was traced back to cinnamon found in apple sauce packets last November, with the Food and Drug Administration recalling several products earlier this year.
For their investigation, CR purchased cinnamon from 17 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and online. They sent the spice samples to a laboratory for cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic testing.
Of the 36 types tested, only six had low enough levels of lead for unrestricted daily use: Sadaf’s Seven Spice and Cinnamon Powder, Loisa’s Organic Cinnamon, Morton Basset’s 100% Ground Cinnamon, and 365 Whole Foods Market’s Ground Cinnamon and Organic Ground Cinnamon.
High lead levels were found in 12 type, including Badia and Mimi’s Products. They suggested caution using 18 types, including Kirkland Signature, Good Gather, Great Value and Trader Joe’s.
Consumer Reports says do not rely on labels like “organic” to guide cinnamon purchases. Although that label can be helpful in terms of produce, a label alone is not enough to ensure low levels of lead in cinnamon.
The magazine said consumers could have at least a teaspoon or more a day with no harm to them.
