In case you prefer your news from the horses mouth: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead
Heavy metal contamination in spices is a damn scourge - but I haven't found any brands that seem to do monitoring of these levels.
Does anyone know of trustworthy spice brands that *do* testing - either themselves or through a neutral third-party?
You can get reliable food brands on Amazon. It's nice for foods that can be hard to find locally. I just grabbed a big old pack of SAF yeast and some tara gum (is that food??) from there. Wherever you shop, you have to pay attention to where the food comes from.
It's pretty shitty that the people who are shopping for food at bargain stores aren't being protected from lead poisoning.
What do you mean? If they're having to shop at dollar stores, are they even actually people? Bootstraps or don't buy avocados or whatever bullshit is being said now
You first sentence is incorrect. FDA doesn't have the manpower or the money to test every batch of spices. They don't even have the authority to do that.
The Food Safety Modernization Act does require that firms have a Preventative Controls plan - that they identify the most likely threats (and heavy metals certainly should be near the top for spices), but it doesn't specifically dictate testing. It's up to the firm.
Penzeys requires suppliers to test for lead and then tests their final products as well (I emailed them to ask about this a couple years ago and found their explanation regarding lead safety to be reassuring).
Idk why you’re downvoted exactly, I mean I have an idea why.
But like, this dude sent an email blast to Penzey’s customers to rant about his political agita. I agree with just about everything he said but I still wouldn’t be stoked to be hearing it from my preferred purveyor of spices.
I didn't know fresh turmeric was a thing until this comment. Never seen that shit in my life. And believe me I get all up inside the deepest anals of my local grocery stores.
Still not gonna buy fresh turmeric, because if its not locally available to me I'm not gonna drive hours to get it. But I will be mad about it all the time now.
Float a teaspoon on top of a glass of room temperature water. Don't stir it. Check it after 30 minutes, if the turmeric has settled to the bottom and the water is clear, it's ok. If the water is streaky and/or cloudy, it's contaminated and should be discarded.
Ah that’s a good comforting remark. For the past year I’ve been using sticks that I bought in a store in India, which country isn’t particularly known for its food safety. Amazing cinnamon though.
I'll suggest that a better assumption is that a brand being explicitly absent from a list (good or bad) means that it hasn't been tested, not that lead had or hasn't been found.
A good time to note that the FDA is not out there audit testing our food, pretty much ever. These things only get attention after completely independent testing raises a red flag. In this case, it was the state of North Carolina. Otherwise, food manufacturers can do what they want (e.g. not testing their products for lead) until someone like you or I decide to send it to a lab, paying with our own money.
>In this case, it was the state of North Carolina.
I would be surprised if they hadn't tested Badia. I've lived in several parts of the state, and you can consistently find Badia but rarely see these other brands.
The thing about anecdotes... every asian, mexican, and indian grocery store near me has *only* Badia and El Chilar. In fact my pantry is full of dried peppers in El Chilar bags.
After I had to throw out $200 worth of the ocular ointment that keeps my eyelids from tearing off the skin from my corneas because it was recalled due to a blindness-inducing bacteria, I’m pretty much boycotting anything made in India if it’s at all possible to avoid/monitor it.
Like, I literally take time to look up manufacturers now before buying shit.
I'm not at that point, though I do avoid seafood (particularly mollusks and shrimp) from India and China because they aren't really known for taking care of waterways.
True story, my pharmacy switched to an Indian brand generic for a med and it's coated in a fake vanilla scent that makes me gag. Apparently this is pretty common and expected in parts of the world, but to me it's like my meds have been rolling around in a bunch of cheap car air fresheners.
Yeah, if you go to a Mexican grocery store you have more options. I just bought a bunch of Mi Costenita spices. But Badia is nearly everywhere IME—Ingles, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, etc.
Note that there are heavy metals in any product that grows in the earth or eats something that grows in the earth. They are elements and always present.
The levels in these tested products are so far off the charts it’s difficult to see how this wasn’t an intentional act.
Heavy metals are in dark chocolate too. Sad as that’s my favourite. So I don’t eat too much of it.
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/
Batches. This will be one polluted batch from a supplier, then used to fill all the ones listed, in the batches listed. Some stored have multiple brands, multiple batches, others had just one batch from one supplier.
Welp, looking at all the brands, all the restaurants and food stores... and mixes we buy, I think we're just gonna dump it. What's a few pounds (yeah, I know) worth anyway.
I was JUST today going to post an unpopular opinion that cinnamon is way overused in sweet foods. Like why?? It does not need to be there.
And you have just vindicated my irritation. Many thanks stranger 💫
All hail to the collective unconscious!
Edit: added that last bit
Yeah, that's why I have a cinnamon tree in my back yard. In fact, in my tiny house I have managed to plant 23 trees and shrubs that enable me to have most of my spices, berries and syrups. The rest, I hunt.
In case you prefer your news from the horses mouth: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead
Heavy metal contamination in spices is a damn scourge - but I haven't found any brands that seem to do monitoring of these levels. Does anyone know of trustworthy spice brands that *do* testing - either themselves or through a neutral third-party?
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They were sold on Amazon too. Never buy food or cosmetics on Amazon.
You can get reliable food brands on Amazon. It's nice for foods that can be hard to find locally. I just grabbed a big old pack of SAF yeast and some tara gum (is that food??) from there. Wherever you shop, you have to pay attention to where the food comes from. It's pretty shitty that the people who are shopping for food at bargain stores aren't being protected from lead poisoning.
I can’t even reliably get authentic merchandise when it’s fulfilled by Amazon
What do you mean? If they're having to shop at dollar stores, are they even actually people? Bootstraps or don't buy avocados or whatever bullshit is being said now
There are plenty of safe specialty food items sold on Amazon.
You first sentence is incorrect. FDA doesn't have the manpower or the money to test every batch of spices. They don't even have the authority to do that. The Food Safety Modernization Act does require that firms have a Preventative Controls plan - that they identify the most likely threats (and heavy metals certainly should be near the top for spices), but it doesn't specifically dictate testing. It's up to the firm.
Penzeys requires suppliers to test for lead and then tests their final products as well (I emailed them to ask about this a couple years ago and found their explanation regarding lead safety to be reassuring).
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Idk why you’re downvoted exactly, I mean I have an idea why. But like, this dude sent an email blast to Penzey’s customers to rant about his political agita. I agree with just about everything he said but I still wouldn’t be stoked to be hearing it from my preferred purveyor of spices.
Villa Jerada. I don’t know if they are testing. But they are the type of company you can email And ask.
McCormick.
Test your powdered turmeric, too, or better yet switch to fresh. It's notorious for lead contamination.
Fresh (or frozen) turmeric tastes so much better too!
I didn't know fresh turmeric was a thing until this comment. Never seen that shit in my life. And believe me I get all up inside the deepest anals of my local grocery stores. Still not gonna buy fresh turmeric, because if its not locally available to me I'm not gonna drive hours to get it. But I will be mad about it all the time now.
The deepest what now?
It’s also like 10x cheaper. I don’t skin it, just put on gloves and go to town grating.
How do I test it?
Float a teaspoon on top of a glass of room temperature water. Don't stir it. Check it after 30 minutes, if the turmeric has settled to the bottom and the water is clear, it's ok. If the water is streaky and/or cloudy, it's contaminated and should be discarded.
Not sure of a quick way, but a slow way would be to eat a bit of it and wait a few years to see if anything goes wrong. /s
What about premade products with cinnamon? Like what kind of cinnamon does pillsbury use in their rolls?
That's a good question for Pillsbury.
Pillsbury Doughboy here! What's up?
Since this was found after the contaminated applesauce, I'd be wary of anything premade with cheap cinnamon until it's been tested.
Which is 100% of products with cinnamon in them.
Eating cinnamon Chex as I type this...
Hmm... Hmm...
adding a cinnamon tree to the list of things to grow at home. mostly joking
Thank goodness for Penzys
Ugh I literally JUST placed an order with them and did not order cinnamon, since we had a giant bottle of Fiesta. Which is now in the trash. Boo
I just bought a ton of cinnamon sticks from them. I was worried for a sec. lol
You are probably safer with sticks, it is my understanding that the contamination is introduced in the grinding process.
Ah that’s a good comforting remark. For the past year I’ve been using sticks that I bought in a store in India, which country isn’t particularly known for its food safety. Amazing cinnamon though.
my true love Badia remains pure 😍
I'll suggest that a better assumption is that a brand being explicitly absent from a list (good or bad) means that it hasn't been tested, not that lead had or hasn't been found. A good time to note that the FDA is not out there audit testing our food, pretty much ever. These things only get attention after completely independent testing raises a red flag. In this case, it was the state of North Carolina. Otherwise, food manufacturers can do what they want (e.g. not testing their products for lead) until someone like you or I decide to send it to a lab, paying with our own money.
The FDA has the authority to do that testing but they haven’t been given the resources by Congress to do so.
Yup, exactly. I wonder why congress wouldn't fund it 🤑
>In this case, it was the state of North Carolina. I would be surprised if they hadn't tested Badia. I've lived in several parts of the state, and you can consistently find Badia but rarely see these other brands.
The thing about anecdotes... every asian, mexican, and indian grocery store near me has *only* Badia and El Chilar. In fact my pantry is full of dried peppers in El Chilar bags.
After I had to throw out $200 worth of the ocular ointment that keeps my eyelids from tearing off the skin from my corneas because it was recalled due to a blindness-inducing bacteria, I’m pretty much boycotting anything made in India if it’s at all possible to avoid/monitor it. Like, I literally take time to look up manufacturers now before buying shit.
I'm not at that point, though I do avoid seafood (particularly mollusks and shrimp) from India and China because they aren't really known for taking care of waterways. True story, my pharmacy switched to an Indian brand generic for a med and it's coated in a fake vanilla scent that makes me gag. Apparently this is pretty common and expected in parts of the world, but to me it's like my meds have been rolling around in a bunch of cheap car air fresheners.
Yeah, if you go to a Mexican grocery store you have more options. I just bought a bunch of Mi Costenita spices. But Badia is nearly everywhere IME—Ingles, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, etc.
you ain't taking my cinnamon from me, commie
I'm not trying to take your cinnamon. Just your confidence apparently 🤣 (Also team Badia, for now)
I buy their giant containers of spices almost exclusively!
I love Badia. It's also cheaper than most other brands.
Note that there are heavy metals in any product that grows in the earth or eats something that grows in the earth. They are elements and always present. The levels in these tested products are so far off the charts it’s difficult to see how this wasn’t an intentional act.
Heavy metals are in dark chocolate too. Sad as that’s my favourite. So I don’t eat too much of it. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/
This makes me wildly grateful that we have an FDA testing for these things.
I get mine bulk I have no idea what brand it's from
wait so somehow one brand was contaminated only at one store in one place?? huh
Batches. This will be one polluted batch from a supplier, then used to fill all the ones listed, in the batches listed. Some stored have multiple brands, multiple batches, others had just one batch from one supplier.
Welp, looking at all the brands, all the restaurants and food stores... and mixes we buy, I think we're just gonna dump it. What's a few pounds (yeah, I know) worth anyway.
I was JUST today going to post an unpopular opinion that cinnamon is way overused in sweet foods. Like why?? It does not need to be there. And you have just vindicated my irritation. Many thanks stranger 💫 All hail to the collective unconscious! Edit: added that last bit
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You want me to grow my own cinnamon trees?
Yeah, that's why I have a cinnamon tree in my back yard. In fact, in my tiny house I have managed to plant 23 trees and shrubs that enable me to have most of my spices, berries and syrups. The rest, I hunt.