We all love using Cinnamon in our meals and drinks, especially in the winter season. But did you know that there are chances of heavy metals lurking in your favorite holiday spice? Heavy metal contamination in Cinnamon is found in 12 out of 36 tested Cinnamon products (as per the Consumer Reports study). So, how can you prevent the consumption of contaminated Cinnamon, and what are different Cinnamon purification methods? Let’s discuss heavy metal removal in Cinnamon in depth. 

Why Does Heavy Metal Contamination Occur in Cinnamon? 

Cinnamon and heavy metal pollution are unfortunately a common occurrence. This contamination can occur due to many factors throughout the process, starting from harvesting to making it ready for sale. 

• Cinnamon trees have the ability to uptake lead from contaminated soil and water through leaded gasoline, mining, and construction sites.
• Lead may also be found in the industrial byproducts that pollute the soil.
• The equipment used in grinding Cinnamon may be tainted with lead.
• Some suppliers may introduce lead to Cinnamon to bulk up its weight and hence its selling price.

This is why there are established recommended lead levels in spices, including Cinnamon. Read our guide to learn more about ASTA’s guidance on heavy metal levels in spices. 

Heavy Metal Removal from Spices – Various Techniques 

There are various techniques to remove toxic metals from spices, like Cinnamon, as explained below – 

• Chemical Precipitation  

It refers to administering some coagulants, like lime, alum, and organic polymers. The chemical precipitation procedure is easy to operate and practicable for most metals, with low costs, but is limited by the high consumption of precipitants and lower removal efficiency. Moreover, there are extra operational costs for sludge disposal. 

• Electrochemical Methods

Different methods, like ion exchange, electrooxidation, electrochemical reduction, and electroflotation, were developed to remove food contaminants. Among these, the ion exchange procedure offers excellent selectivity for metals but involves high raw material costs and a small range of action on metal ions. 

• Electrodialysis

This technique is based on the effect of electric potential when a semi-permeable membrane removes metal ions. This method is easy to perform, practicable, and effective for large volumes of samples but involves high consumption of electrode materials. 

• Magnetic Separation and Metal Detection

This is another method of removing heavy metal from spices and is undertaken throughout the process. The spices go through a drum magnet shortly after they arrive for cleaning; then, they are fed over an earth plate magnet to separate any ferrous metal part. 

Once screened spices leave the sifter, they go through the plate housing magnet with a metal detector to sort out all metals for the contaminant. Externally prepared spices will be subjected to a grate magnet. This attracts and properly retains both large and small, fine magnetically avid metallics through high-intensity rare earth tube magnets.

When the spices are in the final packing stage, a drawer magnet or a hopper-mounted grate magnet will employ a high-powered rare earth magnet to apprehend small, fine, ferrous metal pollutants.

• Some other removal methods involve coagulation and flocculation (water treatment), but they have high operational costs. 
• Flotation methods, including dissolved air, ions, and precipitation flotation, have high efficiency but are complex operating processes. 
• Photocatalytic removal methods use light and semiconductors but have limited efficiency due to the medium’s pH range, long duration, high energy consumption, and complexity.
• Adsorption-based processes use nanoporous carbon-based adsorbents, chitosan-based adsorbents, or some agricultural wastes. Absorption methods are simple, economical, and effective for most metals, but their efficiency depends on the limited pH range, long equilibrium time, and problematic regeneration.

These are the various heavy metal removal methods that can be applied to spices, but their effectiveness depends on certain factors. 

How to Mitigate Naturally Occurring Heavy Metals in Cinnamon? 

Although these techniques help remove heavy metals, farmers must try to mitigate these metals in Cinnamon by following good agricultural practices. Similarly, manufacturers should adopt cleaning practices to minimize contributions from soil and the environment. Environmental pollution has inclined tendencies, and observing heavy metals in various food products, like spices, has to persist to protect human public health.

Specifications and a thorough heavy metal testing procedure should be conducted to adhere to strict internal quality standards before selling the final products. Our products undergo a strict heavy metal testing to ensure we only offer high-quality and safe products for consumption. Consumers should always check if the recommended heavy metal limit is met by the particular seller/brand. Moreover, buy from well-known brands that are transparent about food safety.