According to Consumer Reports, some cinnamon products contain high levels of lead

Researchers at Consumer Reports analyzed 36 products containing ground cinnamon to see if elevated lead levels were only in a few brands or if the problem was more widespread. They released their findings today, calling them “troubling.”

What the report found

Of the 36 products tested, 12 were found to contain lead levels of more than 1 ppm, enough to prompt a recall by New York State (the only state in the US that regulates heavy metals like lead in spices).

Based on the analysis, Consumer Reports recommends against using the following products:

• Cinnamon powder from the brands Paras, EGN, Zara Foods, Badia and Deep
• Ground cinnamon from the brands Mimi’s Products, bowl & basket (the ShopRite brand) and Rani Brand
• Five-spice powder from Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng and Spicy King
• Cinnamon Stick Powder made by Three Rivers

The report also listed dozens of cinnamon products that did not test high for lead. Products on the list included well-known brands such as Great Value (sold at Walmart), Kirkland Signature (sold at Costco), Trader Joe’s, McCormick and Good & Gather (sold at Target).

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Consumer Reports shared its findings with the companies that make the products it reviewed. Both Paras and EGN, the two companies with the highest lead levels, said they would ask stores to pull their products after learning the results.

Growing concerns about cinnamon safety

These results add to growing concerns about the safety of cinnamon, a commonly used spice in many households.

Last fall, a lead poisoning outbreak in hundreds of children prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recall a large number of packages of cinnamon-flavored applesauce. That prompted the agency to conduct a targeted investigation of ground cinnamon products sold at discount stores to test additional samples for lead. The results of that analysis led to another recall of several other ground cinnamon products in March of this year. And on August 29, hundreds of packages of Asli Cinnamon Powder were also recalled due to concerns about lead contamination.

Lead can get into cinnamon products in a number of ways. Lower levels can be absorbed from water or soil as the cinnamon tree grows, according to PBS. But according to a report in The Washington PostCinnamon manufacturers may also intentionally add lead chromate to improve the color or weight of the product. The report also notes that organizations like UNICEF are calling for stricter regulations around lead in our food supply.

Long-term exposure to lead has been linked to health problems including anemia, high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, fertility problems and more, as well as neurological and behavioral problems, which can be irreversible, according to the World Health Organization. Young children are particularly susceptible to negative health effects from lead — even low levels have been linked to developmental delays, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Consumer Reports urges people to stop using the products listed above that have high lead levels, and the FDA advises consumers who have recalled products to throw them away immediately. If you are concerned that you or your child has consumed a product with high lead levels, contact your doctor about next steps.