Some spices may be a source of lead exposure in kids, study finds
Paint chips in older homes, contaminated soil and water pumped though lead pipes are all known sources of lead exposure for children. Now, you might add to that list spices such as turmeric, chili powder and vanilla.
In a small study, researchers in North Carolina found lead contamination in spices, herbal remedies and ceremonial powders in the homes of children with elevated blood lead levels, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The food items that had the highest levels of lead in the North Carolina study included samples of chili powder/red pepper, cumin, coriander, anise, turmeric and vanilla.
For children, there is no safe blood lead level. Even low levels of lead poisoning can affect IQ, the ability to pay attention and academic achievement.
Nor are adults immune from the adverse effects associated with lead contamination. Health problems include reproductive issues for both men and women, high blood pressure, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain, according to the CDC.
In the United States, there is no national limit for lead contamination in spices. The Food and Drug Administration has set a limit for lead in natural-source food-color additives like paprika, saffron and turmeric at 10 milligrams per kilogram. For products that children will eat, such as candy, the limit is 0.1 mg/kg.
“However, spices are not considered food intended for consumption by children,” the researchers state.
Nationally, the number of cases of elevated blood lead levels in children has been decreasing. But in one North Carolina county, there was a small increase, from 27 reported cases of elevated blood lead levels in 2013 to 44 cases in 2017.
Lead investigations were conducted at 983 homes in North Carolina from January 2011 to January 2018, with 61 children in 59 properties included in the final report.
The majority of the children lived in new homes, which lessened the likelihood paint chips were a culprit — 42 homes were built after 1978, when lead-based paints were banned in the U.S. Brass objects, jewelry, cookware and other consumer items that might have contained lead were found in 10 of the homes. In 32 of the homes, there was no evidence of lead in paint, dust, mini-blinds, faucets, bathtub glaze or furniture finish.