![]() ![]() “People reach for the herbs and spices in their kitchens multiple times a day,” Akinleye says. And even for adults, she says, the ASTA believes the risk is low “in large part because spices are a very small component of the diet.”īut CR’s data underscore a broader problem. Shumow says that according to a recent risk analysis by the ASTA, spices make up less than 0.1 percent of dietary lead exposure in children ages 1 to 6. ![]() Red button ginger poisonous how to#The trade group offers companies guidance on how to limit contaminants that they can implement with their suppliers. Laura Shumow, executive director of the American Spice Trade Association, says it’s almost impossible to rid herbs and spices of all heavy metals because of “the unavoidable presence in the environments where they are grown.” She also says the amount of heavy metals absorbed from the soil, and the part of the plant where they can end up, differs from plant to plant. Heavy metals may also get into food, including herbs and spices, during manufacturing-from processing equipment or packaging, for example. Heavy metals can show up in food if the water or soil where food is grown contains them naturally or is contaminated because of pesticides or industrial uses, says Tunde Akinleye, a CR chemist who oversaw the testing. “Since the risks are serious,” Rogers says, “it pays to limit your intake of heavy metals as much as possible.” In adults, it can contribute to central nervous system problems, reproductive problems, and hypertension, and can damage kidney and immune function. In children, it can affect brain development, increasing the risk for behavioral problems and lower IQ. And over time, exposure to those heavy metals can harm health. “But our tests show that dried herbs and spices can be a surprising, and worrisome, source for children and adults.”įrequent exposure to even small amounts of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and other heavy metals is dangerous, in part because it’s difficult for the human body to break them down or excrete them. “When people think about heavy metals in their diet, if they do at all, it’s probably the lead in their drinking water or arsenic in their children’s fruit juices or cereals,” Rogers says. Still, some products contain enough heavy metals, even in the small amounts used in cooking, to raise a concern when used regularly. And there ways to limit your risk by choosing and using spices carefully. Rogers, PhD, director of food safety and testing at CR. And none of the tested herbs and spices were contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which may cause foodborne illness.Ī single serving of any herb or spice CR tested is unlikely to cause harm, says James E. And in most others, we found at least one brand that fit into our No Concern category. In seven of the 15 types of herbs and spices tested, all the brands had heavy metal levels below our thresholds for concern. The good news? Many products performed well in the tests. A recipe may call for just a pinch or three of cumin, cayenne, and garlic powder, but what would your grandmother’s arroz con pollo be without them? And what about your secret Simon & Garfunkel fish rub-you know, the one with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme?Īlso troubling: There was no single predictor of which products contained higher levels of heavy metals-for example, brand name didn’t matter, and neither did “ organic” or “packed in USA” claims. And Joey Davis, who grew up in San Diego, “where Mexican food is on every corner,” and whose Jamaican wife “puts habanero in everything, including cucumber salad,” says that in his home, “you can’t imagine any dish without spices and herbs.”įor many of us, herbs and spices play a large role in our cooking and in our family’s lives. “This is so flavorful, I use less salt in general,” she says. Erica Burger of Carmel, Ind., says she became “hooked” on a 21-spice mixture-so much so that she now uses it in all sorts of dishes. Jessica Clark, a mother of two from Lincoln, Neb., says she uses them so often that she buys in bulk and mixes her own blends. Open a drawer or cabinet in any kitchen in the U.S., and you’re likely to find several jars of dried herbs and spices. ![]()
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