Spices contain traces of heavy metals, and higher concentrations can make them unsafe for consumption. This is why it is crucial to ensure compliance with quality standards so that the presence of heavy metals is as low as possible. The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) has set guidance levels for heavy metals in spices. If you trade in spice, you must adhere to these standards to ensure the spices are safe for trade and consumption. 

In this blog, we will discuss ASTA’s guidance in detail to understand all about heavy metal levels in spices. 

Heavy Metals in Spices

Heavy metals, like lead, cadmium, and inorganic arsenic, are omnipresent in our natural environment. Any natural product in contact with the soil or groundwater can take up traces of metals that can’t be eliminated by washing or processing. The concentration of metals in spices depends on where and how they are grown, the climate and soil conditions, and harvesting and processing methods. 

The spice industry employs various approaches, like Good Agricultural Practices, to reduce heavy metal contamination, but it is impossible to avoid the natural uptake and accumulation of trace levels of heavy metals in spices. As such, the industry has to stay vigilant to minimize the heavy metal concentration in spices. ASTA promotes global harmonization with the existing heavy metal limits and recommends members of the spice trade follow industry guidance levels for heavy metals in certain spice categories. They can develop and implement programs to ensure the spices comply with the existing standard. 

Lead in Spices 

According to publicly available data, naturally occurring background lead levels in spices are relatively low, less than three ppm. As per WHO’s Global Environment Monitoring System, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) found that background levels of lead in spices typically range from 0.4 to 3 ppm, with the highest levels recorded in cinnamon. 

However, the case of economically adulterated spices is different as it involves the addition of substances to enhance the food’s value. Economically motivated adulteration may lead to higher lead levels in spices, which can cause adverse outcomes. A real-life example is the 2023 incident where cinnamon adulterated with lead was used as an ingredient in applesauce, which caused over 500 cases of lead poisoning in the US. 

Recent Enforcement – Lead in Cinnamon 

There are currently no FDA-established guidelines for heavy metal levels in spices, but it has established maximum limits for lead in various commodities. For example, in 2022, FDA introduced a maximum lead levels in juice blends as 50 ppb, and in 2023, maximum level of inorganic arsenic in apple juice as 10 ppb.

The recent enforcement of lead levels in cinnamon follows the cinnamon applesauce incident in Ecuador in 2023, wherein an analysis found lead levels in cinnamon to be as high as 2270 to 5110 ppm. After the investigation, the FDA concluded that the cinnamon used in the applesauce was adulterated with lead chromate by an immediate supplier. FDA conducted targeted product testing in cinnamon products sold at discounted retail stores. It recommended voluntary recalls for ground cinnamon from six distributors in 2024. The products from these distributors were found to have more than two ppm of lead in their cinnamon. 

In FDA meetings, it was communicated to ASTA that it should continue using 2 ppm as the enforcement threshold for lead levels in cinnamon. This enforcement level aligns with the maximum level proposed and the current EU (European Union) regulations. 

Industry Guidance Levels for Lead

Since there is no federal limit for lead in spices, ASTA recommends the following maximum levels to promote global harmonization with the existing lead limits in the EU –

• 0.6 ppm for fruit spices and 0.9 ppm for seed spices.
• The maximum lead levels for bud and flower pistil spices are one ppm.
• Root and rhizome spices should have a maximum of 1.5 ppm of lead, whereas bark spices should have two ppm. 

These recommended levels are for spices in their dried forms. These levels reflect achievability considerations, unavoidable environmental factors, and varying background concentrations. Different regulatory agencies worldwide, like the Vietnam Ministry of Health and the EU Commission 2021, have different recommended maximum lead levels. 

These guidance levels provided by ASTA are to assist members and address issues with trading in clean and safe spices. This guidance is not directive, and traders can apply it at their sole discretion. However, cinnamon traders should conduct thorough heavy metal testing to ensure their lead and other heavy metal levels align with the ASTA guidance levels. We prioritize our customers’ health and well-being and conduct a heavy metal test with 100% transparency to ensure our cinnamon products are safe for consumption.