Lead levels in ground and stick cinnamon sold in Ecuador
What it found
Ground cinnamon sold in Ecuador had almost twice the lead of stick cinnamon, and three ground samples went above the maximum level set by Ecuadorian and European Union rules.
The authors say the cancer risk from ground cinnamon was found for the population.
What they found
Ground vs stick cinnamon
Ground cinnamon samples had almost twice the level of lead as stick samples. The average was 0.80 mg/kg in ground cinnamon and 0.36 mg/kg in stick cinnamon.
Samples above the limit
Three ground samples had lead content above the maximum level set by Ecuadorian and European Union regulations, which is 2.0 mg/kg.
Difference between types
A statistical test showed a significant difference in lead content between ground and stick cinnamon.
Non-cancer risk
The hazard quotient values showed negligible non-carcinogenic effects for children and adults, even at the highest lead content found.
Cancer risk
The carcinogenic risk of ground cinnamon at maximum and mean lead concentrations was found for the population.
What the authors conclude
“Our study highlights the deficiencies in current surveillance systems and the lack of effective national regulations for exposure to foodborne metals.”
Also in their conclusions
- They highlight the deficiencies in current surveillance systems and the lack of effective national regulations for exposure to foodborne metals.
How it was done
Lead is a poisonous metal that affects organs and the nervous system, and its presence in spices such as cinnamon has been identified as a possible way people are exposed. A safety alert was issued in the United States in late October 2023 about four children with high lead levels in their blood after eating apple-cinnamon fruit puree made and exported by an Ecuadorian company.
They measured the lead content in 61 ground and stick cinnamon samples from different commercial brands and lots sold in Ecuador.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study measured lead levels in cinnamon samples and estimated risk. It did not follow people over time to see whether they got sick.
- The risk estimates are based on the lead levels found in these samples and on assumptions about how much cinnamon people eat.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
The paper
- Title
- Lead content in cinnamon and its health risk assessment for Ecuadorian consumers
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Yánez-Jácome GS, Romero-Estévez D, Rosero-Jácome AP, Cipriani-Avila I, Navarrete H, Vélez-Terreros PY (2024). Lead content in cinnamon and its health risk assessment for Ecuadorian consumers. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2024.115010PubMed 39299376DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error