Reviewed and Approved by Steve Rogers, Corporate Quality Manager, Certified Group; Tim Lombardo, Senior Director, Food Consulting Services, EAS Consulting Group
1-Minute Summary
- Lead in cinnamon products has been detected at high levels, leading to FDA alerts and recalls.
- Foods like dark chocolate, apple juice, rice, and leafy greens are prone to heavy metals.
- Perform a risk assessment of your raw materials and food safety management system to maximize safety.
- Heavy metals testing should be integrated into any food safety program that includes high-risk raw materials.
- Publishing third-party lab results can build consumer trust and differentiate your brand.
Recent News on Lead in Cinnamon
Another day, another report of excessive heavy metals found in our food supply.
Recent reports have revealed elevated levels of lead in various cinnamon products, posing a potential health risk to consumers. A Consumer Reports investigation found that one-third of the cinnamon powders and spice blends tested contained high levels of lead, with the worst offenders reaching levels as high as 3.52 ppm.
This follows multiple recalls and FDA alerts issued throughout 2024 concerning ground cinnamon contaminated with lead.
A Widespread Issue in Food Products
This issue with lead found in cinnamon is part of a broader problem.
Lead and other heavy metals contamination has previously been a concern in various foods like dark chocolate and baby food. Exposure can have severe health effects, particularly in children, leading to developmental issues and long-term health problems.
As we explain here, naturally occurring heavy metals in the environment are typically present at harmless levels. The concern is not necessarily with heavy metals but instead the excessive levels that pose a risk to human health. It is human activity (pollution) that has led to higher levels of these contaminants in water and soil, which then accumulate in plants and commercial animals. When these plants and animals are then processed for human consumption, many of these contaminants are concentrated to even higher levels.
Heavy metals occur naturally in the environment and via pollution. Certain plants, like spices, can absorb them during the growing process.
What Food Manufacturers Should Do
The last thing you want to do is release a product that could harm someone. Here are some considerations for your food safety and quality programs to help prevent that from happening:
1. Conduct a Risk Assessment of Your Supply Chain
It all starts with your raw materials. The industry is working to improve transparency and traceability throughout the entire supply chain, but gaps remain. Begin by evaluating raw materials for potential heavy metals contamination.
Several products carry higher risk due to their growing environments and the natural ability of certain plants to absorb metals from the soil, water, and air. They include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Cinnamon: Recent recalls have shown high lead levels in some cinnamon products, raising concerns about this commonly used spice.
- Dark Chocolate: Previous reports have found elevated levels of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate. Cocoa plants can absorb cadmium from the soil, while lead can accumulate on the outer shells of cacao pods.
- Apple Juice: Arsenic contamination in apple juice has been a long-standing concern. The FDA's "Closer to Zero" plan aims to reduce heavy metal exposure in fruit juices, but experts warn that even low levels of lead and arsenic in juices can pose risks.
- Rice: Rice absorbs more arsenic than other grains, especially when grown in areas with high soil arsenic content.
- Protein Powders: Both plant-based and whey protein powders have been found to contain concerning levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, potentially due to the soil where the protein sources are grown.
- Leafy Greens: Vegetables like spinach, kale, and cabbage are known as "hyperaccumulators," meaning they can absorb heavy metals like cadmium from contaminated soil. Leafy greens grown in certain regions are particularly vulnerable to contamination.
- Root Vegetables: Foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets can accumulate heavy metals like lead and cadmium from the soil. The concentration of heavy metals in these vegetables depends on the soil and water quality in their growing regions.
- Nuts and Seeds: Nuts such as almonds, sunflower seeds, and other seeds have shown cadmium presence due to the uptake from contaminated soils.
2. Conduct Lab Testing for Heavy Metals
Integrate heavy metals testing into your food safety program. While the U.S. FDA does not publish maximum allowable limits for heavy metals, the agency monitors the food supply and issues guidance. California Proposition 65 guidelines can serve as a reference for permissible levels.
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), food manufacturers are required to follow GMPs and work to ensure product safety. Heavy metals testing should be included in your program if your raw materials are identified as high-risk.
Analysts typically use an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument for heavy metals testing of food.
3. Establish the Appropriate Testing Frequency
Determining if you need to test your raw materials and finished products for heavy metals and, if so, how often, starts with developing a robust food safety management system that includes a hazard analysis and risk assessment (step one mentioned above).
If your analysis reveals the need for heavy metals testing, incorporate lab testing into your food safety program.
As for how often to test, it depends on several factors, including…
- Trustworthiness and reputation of your suppliers. Established suppliers who have historically provided products that meet your specifications and that have a current food safety certification may require less frequent confirmation testing.
- Err on the side of caution with new suppliers until they’ve consistently provided raw materials that meet your specifications.
Our experts at EAS Consulting Group, a Certified Group company, can help assess your risk, review your food safety management system and provide recommendations for what to test for and how often.
Consider Starting a Transparency Programs
Many companies, particularly in the dietary supplement industry, include Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from a third-party lab on their website or ecommerce platform to reassure customers about the safety of their products. This can be a great way to promote the safety of your products and stand out from the crowd.
Act Now to Verify the Safety of Your Products
Heavy metals in food will always be a concern given the realities of modern agriculture and global supply chains.
However, implementing risk assessments and laboratory testing helps mitigate these risks and ensure you’re producing products safely.
Contact EAS Consulting Group for help with your risk assessment.
Contact Certified Laboratories or Food Safety Net Services, both part of Certified Group, for heavy metals lab testing of your food products.
