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Spices Free From Concerning Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic & Cadmium

Mamavation » Blog » Food | Mamavation » Spices Free From Concerning Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic & Cadmium
A selection of various colorful spices on a wooden table in bowls

November 16, 2021 //  by Leah Segedie

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Which spices on the retail shelves are free from dangerous amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium? The latest consumer study on spices tested 126 different spice products for heavy metals.  We’ve summarized its findings for you and linked up the best products for your purchase. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best cookware without PFAS and nanoparticles, best organic mattresses, and best air fryers, now join us for a report on the most popular spices available at the grocery aisle and which ones have dangerous levels of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links. 

Spices free from dangerous heavy metals on a table

Table of Contents

  • Consumer Reports Releases Study on Spices & Heavy Metals at Concerning Levels
  • Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium Can Be Dangerous to Your Health & Concerning in Spices
    • Federal vs. California Prop. 65 “Safe Harbor” Levels For Heavy Metals like Lead & Arsenic
  • Mamavation’s Investigation on Spices Free From Concerning Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium & Recommended Brands
  • Not Our Favorite Spices with Concerning Levels of Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium
    • Basil
    • Oregano
    • Thyme
    • Tumeric
  • Better Spices With Some Heavy Metal Contamination of Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium
    • Basil
    • Chili Powder
    • Cumin
    • Ginger
    • Oregano
    • Paprika
    • Thyme
    • Tumeric
  • Best Spices Free From Concerning Levels of Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium
    • Basil
    • Black Pepper
    • Chili Powder
    • Coriander
    • Cumin
    • Curry
    • Garlic Powder
    • Ginger
    • Paprika
    • Saffron
    • Sesame
    • Turmeric
    • White Pepper

Consumer Reports Releases Study on Spices & Heavy Metals at Concerning Levels

Consumer Reports tested 126 products from 15 different categories of spices from Trader Joes, McCormick, Whole Foods, and other popular brands. Some were organic spices while others were not. Here’s some of the results that may be of interest to you:

  • One-third of the tested products, 40 in total, had high enough levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium combined, on average, to pose a health concern for children when regularly consumed in typical serving sizes.
  • Thyme and oregano–all results were concerning, so please consider growing them in your garden
  • 31 products had levels of lead that were so high that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day.
  • Both organic and conventional brands tested with high levels, so organic isn’t a predictor of safer food here.
  • 7 out of the 15 types of herbs and spices tested had heavy metal levels below the thresholds for concern.
  • None of the tested herbs and spices were contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which may cause foodborne illness.

Traditional oriental spices in Indonesian bowls

Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium Can Be Dangerous to Your Health & Concerning in Spices

Frequent exposure to small amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, can be hazardous to your health and can raise your blood led levels. Consumer Reports found heavy metals in most categories of spices including basil, black pepper, chili powder, coriander, cumin, curry powder, garlic powder, ginger, paprika, saffron, sesame seeds, turmeric, & white pepper. When the source of lead exposure is in the kitchen, it can increase a child’s risk of health problems. Heavy metals are difficult for the human body, especially children, to break down and excrete. Over time, they build up.

Heavy metals are particularly problematic to young children affecting brain development, increasing the risk of behavior problems, and a lowered IQ. When adults are exposed to concerning amounts of heavy metals it can increase reproductive problems, hypertension, decrease immune function. It’s also linked to kidney damage and central nervous system problems.

Some recent studies have demonstrated concerning harm with heavy metals in spices:

  • In 2018, a study in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found high lead levels in 22 percent of food samples of mostly spices and herbal remedies from homes of children in North Carolina with lead poisoning. It seems that spices, depending on how high the levels are and how often they are used to cook with can have a significant effect on a child.
  • In 2010, a study linked a case of lead poisoning in a baby boy from Massachusetts that was 12-months-old. The turmeric used by his family had high levels of heavy metals. In addition, there were 5 similar cases later discovered in Arizona, New York, California, Colorado, & Connecticut.
  • Turmeric has been quite a problem since 2011. More than a dozen turmeric products have been recalled since that time.
  • In terms of companies that are producing spices with high amounts of heavy metals, there are about two dozen spice companies from 11 countries subject to import alerts for lead contamination. When this happens, it’s a signal to regulators to detain and test those products.

Spices free from lead on a black table

Federal vs. California Prop. 65 “Safe Harbor” Levels For Heavy Metals like Lead & Arsenic

So what levels of lead, arsenic, & cadmium are concerning to public health officials? According to the Food & Drug Administration, the levels inside your food that you are allowed to be exposed to are as follows:

  • Heavy metals as lead (as Pb), should not be in your food or supplements at more than 10 parts per million.
  • Arsenic (as As), should not be in your food or supplement at more than 3 parts per million.
  • Mercury (as Hg), should not be in your food or supplements at more than 1 part per million.

When it comes to protecting consumers, California has far lower levels, but instead of banning products, they force manufacturers to use label warnings. If these Prop. 65 label warnings are inaccurate, companies can be sued by Californians. California has stricter levels under their Prop. 65 List of Carcinogens for acceptable risk and  No Significant Risk Levels (NSRLs) for cancer-causing chemicals and Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for chemicals causing reproductive toxicity. Any product that exhibits heavy metals above these amounts has to be labeled with a Prop. 65 warning to sell to Californians.

  • Lead (as Pb), not more than 0.5 parts per million (ppm)
  • Inorganic arsenic, not more than 10 ppb (except inhalation) inorganic arsenic
  • Cadmium, not more than 4.1 ppb (oral)

Some brands have different product formulations made exclusively for California residents, so this does not mean that the California law covers everyone. But if you have ever seen a Prop. 65 warning label inside a package you purchased, it simply means they are just keeping things consistent with California standards across the United States. These same spices in our report when sold in California, would need to be labeled with a Prop. 65 warning to alert consumers before consumption. This warning label also applies online, so you pay close attention to those warnings.

Spices and herbs in wooden bowls. Food and cuisine ingredients

Mamavation’s Investigation on Spices Free From Concerning Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium & Recommended Brands

Mamavation reviewed the consumer study from Consumer Reports testing 126 spices encompassing basil, black pepper, chili powder, coriander, cumin, curry powder, garlic powder, ginger, paprika, saffron, sesame seeds, turmeric, & white pepper.  We divided the groups into three categories: “not our favorite,” “better” and “best.” The levels are based on the levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic that were detected by this independent study.  Luckily, none of the tested herbs and spices were contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which can cause foodborne illness.

In order to help make this easier for you, we’ve recommended some products for you that passed and were also made from organic ingredients. We’ve linked up all the brands that passed in our “best” category separately.

  • Simply Organic Basil
  • Simply Organic Black Pepper
  • Simply Organic Chili Powder
  • Simply Organic Coriander
  • Simply Organic Ground Cumin
  • Simply Organic Curry Powder
  • Simply Organic Garlic Powder
  • Simply Organic Ginger
  • Simply Organic Paprika
  • Krokos Kozanis Organic Greek Red Saffron in Filaments
  • Woodstock Organic Sesame Tahini Unsalted
  • Grain Brain Organic Hulled Sesame Seeds
  • Simply Organic Turmeric
  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Ground White Pepper

A selection of various colorful spices on a wooden table in bowls

Not Our Favorite Spices with Concerning Levels of Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium

This category comprises products that were deemed to have high levels of concern for either arsenic, lead or cadmium. We would not recommend you purchase spices from this category at all. Note: all thyme and oregano are listed in problematic categories.

Basil

  • Spice Islands –Sweet Basil

Oregano

  • La Flor Ground Oregano

Thyme

  • Tone’s Ground Thyme
  • Happy Belly (Amazon) Ground Thyme

Tumeric

  • La Flor Ground Turmeric

Spices and herbs. Curry, saffron, turmeric, cinnamon over wood

Better Spices With Some Heavy Metal Contamination of Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium

This category had brands that had some concerning levels of heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium. However, they were not as bad as the “not our favorite” category. We only recommend purchasing from this category sparingly. Note: all thyme and oregano are at problematic levels.

Basil

  • 365 Whole Foods Market Basil
  • Great Value (Walmart) Basil Leave
  • McCormick Culinary Ground Basil (Albahaca Molida)
  • Sausage Maker Ground Basil
  • Litehouse Freeze Dried Basil
  • Morton & Bassett Basil*

Chili Powder

  • Great Value (Walmart) Chili Powder*

Cumin

  • Bolner’s Fiesta Ground Comino (Cumin)*
  • Badia Ground Cumin (Comino Molido)*
  • Great Value (Walmart) Ground Cumin*
  • Trader Joe’s Organic Ground Cumin

Ginger

  • 365 Whole Foods Market Ground Ginger
  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Ground Ginger
  • La Flor Ground Ginger (Jenjibre)
  • Tone’s Ground Ginger
  • Badia Ground Ginger (Jengibre Molido)
  • Spice Islands Ground Ginger
  • Morton & Bassett Ground Ginger
  • McCormick Ground Ginger

Oregano

  • Simply Organic Oregano
  • McCormick Ground Oregano
  • Penzeys Spices Oregano Turkish
  • Spice Islands Oregano
  • Badia Ground Oregano (Molido)
  • Sadaf Oregano Leaves (Origan)

Paprika

  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Paprika*
  • Badia Paprika (Pimenton)*
  • Pride of Szeged Sweet Hungarian Style Paprika
  • McCormick Paprika

Thyme

  • Spice Islands Ground Thyme
  • Morton & Bassett Ground Thyme
  • McCormick Ground Thyme

Tumeric

  • Kirkland Signature (Costco) Ground Turmeric
  • Morton & Bassett Turmeric
  • McCormick Ground Turmeric

Spices with low heavy metals

Best Spices Free From Concerning Levels of Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic, & Cadmium

This category consists of spice products that do not have concerning levels of heavy metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium. We recommend you purchase products from this list. Please note that we have put both organic and non-organic products up here. If you want just a list of organic products, we curated that list for you above in our “recommended” list. Note: all oregano and thyme were at concerning levels. We recommend you purchase those spices fresh or grow it in your garden.

Basil

  • Simply Organic Basil

Black Pepper

  • Tone’s Ground Black Pepper
  • El Guapo Black Pepper Ground (Pimienta Negra Molida)
  • Badia Ground Black Pepper (Pimienta Negra Molida)
  • Casablanca Ground Black Pepper (Pimienta Negra)
  • Trader Joe’s Organic Ground Black Pepper
  • Kirkland Signature (Costco) Fine Ground Black Pepper
  • Simply Organic Black Pepper
  • Penzeys Spices Tellicherry Black Pepper Fine Shaker Grind
  • Great Value (Walmart) Ground Black Pepper
  • McCormick Pure Ground Black Pepper

Chili Powder

  • Morton & Bassett Chili Powder
  • Spice Islands Chili Powder
  • Simply Organic Chili Powder
  • Badia Polvo de Chili Powder
  • Swad Chilli Powder
  • Good & Gather (Target) Chili Powder
  • Gebhardt Chili Powder
  • El Guapo Ground California Chili (Chile California Molido)
  • McCormick Dark Chili Powder

Coriander

  • Simply Organic Coriander
  • Happy Belly (Amazon) Ground Coriander
  • Badia Ground Coriander (Culantro Molido)
  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Ground Coriander
  • Spice Islands Ground Coriander
  • Morton & Bassett Ground Coriander
  • Laxmi Brand Corriander Powder
  • Penzeys Spices Coriander Ground

Cumin

  • Spice Islands Ground Cumin Seed
  • Simply Organic Ground Cumin
  • El Guapo Cumin (Comino)
  • Morton & Bassett Ground Cumin
  • McCormick Ground Cumin
  • 365 Whole Foods Market Cumin Ground

Curry

  • Simply Organic Curry Powder
  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Curry Powder
  • Morton & Bassett Curry
  • Spice Islands Curry Powder
  • Jamaican Choice Jamaican Curry Powder
  • McCormick Curry Powder
  • Happy Belly (Amazon) Curry Powder
  • Caribbean Rhythms Mild Curry Powder
  • Badia Jamaican Style Curry Powder

Garlic Powder

  • 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Garlic Powder
  • Lawry’s Casero Garlic Powder (Ajo en Polvo)
  • McCormick Garlic Powder
  • Simply Organic Garlic Powder
  • Bolner’s Fiesta Garlic Powder
  • Kirkland Signature (Costco) Granulated California Garlic
  • Great Value (Walmart) Granulated Garlic
  • La Flor Garlic Powder (Ajo en Polvo)
  • Badia Garlic Powder (Ajo en Polvo)
  • Spice Supreme Garlic Powder

Ginger

  • Simply Organic Ginger

Paprika

  • Morton & Bassett Paprika
  • Simply Organic Paprika
  • Spice Islands Paprika
  • 365 Whole Foods Market Paprika

Saffron

  • Pacific Plaza Imports Full Thread Spanish Saffron
  • Krokos Kozanis Organic Greek Red Saffron in Filaments
  • Vigo Imported Saffron
  • Badia Pure Selected Saffron (Azafran)
  • McCormick Gourmet All Natural Spanish Saffron
  • Sadaf Pure, Premium Saffron Thread

Sesame

  • Sincerely Nuts Sesame Hulled
  • Woodstock Organic Sesame Tahini Unsalted
  • Al Wadi Al Akhdar Tahina 100% Ground Sesame
  • Grain Brain Organic Hulled Sesame Seeds
  • Bob’s Red Mill Premium Hulled White Sesame Seeds
  • Penzeys Spices Sesame Seeds White Hulled
  • Roland Tahini Pure Ground Sesame Seed
  • JFC Premium Roasted White Sesame Seed
  • Sadaf Sesame Seed Raw

Turmeric

  • Laxmi Brand Turmeric Powder
  • Spice Islands Turmeric
  • Sadaf Turmeric Powder (Curcuma)
  • Simply Organic Turmeric
  • Badia Ground Turmeric (Curcuma Molida)

White Pepper

  • Great Value (Walmart) Organic Ground White Pepper
  • Penzeys Spices White Pepper Indonesia Fine Ground
  • Badia Ground White (Pepper Pimienta Blanca Molida)
  • Morton & Bassett Ground White Pepper
  • Spice Islands Ground White Pepper
  • Sadaf Ground White Pepper (Poivre Blanc Moulu)
  • McCormick Ground White Pepper
  • La Flor White Pepper

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marie Ankrom

    November 18, 2024 at 6:13 am

    Can anyone please tell me if Spice Train whole cumin seeds are compromised by heavy metals?
    Thank you,
    Marie

    Reply
  2. Sunny Ankrom

    November 18, 2024 at 6:09 am

    Can anyone or Mamavation answer if Spice Train whole cumin seeds are comprised with heavy metal’s? I use this brand to make my Jeera tea.
    Thank you,
    Sunny

    Reply
  3. Ward

    October 30, 2024 at 9:07 am

    I would love to hear about Frontier spices too

    Reply
  4. Gregory Tourkakis

    September 1, 2024 at 6:38 am

    Are these spices ranked from lowest to highest regarding heavy metals content? Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Tiffany

    March 26, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    Thank you for your time on all of this! It’s very helpful. So many stealth moves to be cautious of, even in the organic world. Any thoughts on Azure’s organic spices?

    Reply
  6. Marie Miller

    January 10, 2024 at 1:06 am

    Is there any chance you’d test bulk spices? Like frontier co-op, mountain rose herbs, Star west botanicals?

    Reply
    • Cindy Russo

      August 8, 2024 at 2:05 pm

      Or Essentially Organic. I would love to know the levels of theirs.

      Reply
    • Mary Huber

      December 11, 2024 at 9:32 am

      I am wondering exactly the same thing, Marie, because I purchase from these three companies.

      Reply
  7. Eryn

    October 8, 2023 at 12:24 pm

    What about Ceylon cinnamon

    Reply
    • Liz

      October 23, 2023 at 12:22 pm

      Red ape

      Reply
    • Maria

      January 27, 2024 at 10:09 pm

      Here with the same question!

      Reply
    • MsM

      May 16, 2024 at 12:19 pm

      Here is their findings when they investigated Cinnamon
      https://mamavation.com/food/cinnamon-lead-cadmium-glyphosate.html

      Reply
  8. John L Brown

    October 8, 2023 at 10:28 am

    It would be quite useful if there were testing kits that could test for some or all heavy metals. That would go a long way in alerting and protecting consumers from these horrid contaminates.

    Reply
    • Sarah D

      January 10, 2024 at 9:56 am

      I agree! I’d love that. I’m so curious if any of these results have changed since 01. Companies just seem so shady these days. 🙁

      Reply
    • Jenny

      August 2, 2024 at 11:04 am

      There are but they are expensive. Take a look at the food testing being done by Lead Safe Mama

      Reply
  9. Anonymous

    August 1, 2023 at 11:47 am

    ~ I can sum it up in one phrase: THEY’RE KILLING US [SLOWLY] and without us realising it. It is simply PRE-MEDITATED MURDER OF THE MASSES…DEPOPULATION, if you please. Their goal is to make us sick. We’d have to return to living as cave dwellers, so the corporate big whigs can take advantage of the egregious salaries, bonuses and parachute clauses in their contracts. They don’t care a crap about us…it’s about overriding the will of the people and forcing their WILL on us. Whether or not we comply is only a matter of time. Whether it’s chem trails or through food poisoning, however, our health and blood will be forever on their heads. ~

    Reply
    • Malamutemom1

      September 3, 2023 at 1:06 pm

      Agree totally with all you stated!

      Reply
    • MW

      September 22, 2023 at 1:05 pm

      You are 100% right! The question is, what do we do about it??? Stop buying products that we know are harmful to our health! People need to unite against these big corporations that are only concerned about profits and could care less about people and our health!

      Reply
  10. S. Painter

    August 1, 2023 at 11:41 am

    ~ I can sum it up in one phrase: THEY’RE KILLING US. It is simply PRE-MEDITATED MURDER OF THE MASSES…DEPOPULATION, if you please. We’d have to return to living as cave dwellers, so the corporate big whigs can take advantage of the bonuses and parachute clauses in their contracts. They don’t care a crap about us…it’s about overriding the will of the people and forcing their WILL on us. Whether or not we comply is only a matter of time. Whether it’s chem trails or through food poisoning, however, our health and blood will be forever on their heads. ~

    Reply
  11. tawnya honaker

    April 16, 2023 at 9:29 pm

    what about Frontier Co-op?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      May 28, 2023 at 11:14 am

      Frontier co-op distributes the Simply brand.

      Reply
  12. Jeri

    December 31, 2022 at 7:27 am

    Is there a list of organic food products that has been tested for heavy metals? This was a very interesting article on spices and herbs.

    Reply
  13. Cindy Swanson

    December 11, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you for compiling these lists. I would love to know if there are any safe brands of organic cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and bay leaves. I haven’t been able to find any.

    Reply
    • Kim Pabla

      January 7, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      I know red ape cinnamon is free from heavy metals!

      Reply
  14. Laura

    November 17, 2022 at 8:36 am

    What is the * next to various spices for?

    Reply
  15. Mama Dav

    May 21, 2022 at 2:17 pm

    I really appreciate the testing of so many items we encounter on a daily basis. I have become a bit paranoid because poison it is in every aspect of my day! I have thrown away my expensive “MY PILLOW” due to the polyurethane it contained and I worry when I sit on my couch or living room chair because they contain toxic materials. I have gotten rid of all my favorite dishes because they contained unhealthy amounts of lead and I panic when I prepare meals in any of my pans because they all emit a toxin. There is poison in just about everything I cook/eat; veggies and fruits with pesticides from the top 10 list and more, foods laced with glyphosate, unhealthy seafood (whether it be “farmed” or from the polluted ocean), juice with arsenic, almonds have cyanide, along with just about every spice I’ve purchased containing dangerous metals. I recently read about the materials in my workout clothes and my waterproof raincoats being hazardous to my health. The air fryer I wanted to buy is dangerous to cook with. So many foods are GMO’s? When you put it all together, we barely have a fighting chance. What do the company big shots that provide us with these products feed themselves and their families?

    Reply
    • Brianna

      January 15, 2023 at 9:24 pm

      Well said. 🙁

      Reply
    • Tia

      April 7, 2023 at 5:56 pm

      Any testing on onion powder or cayenne?

      Reply
      • LAS

        November 2, 2023 at 9:01 am

        Yes, I am curious about that too. And the Costco chopped dried onion.

        Reply
      • Sarah D

        January 10, 2024 at 9:00 am

        That’s what I’m looking for as well. Our family uses a lot and I’ve been watching about other health benefits for cayenne so I’d like the cleanest I can buy in bulk.

        Reply
    • tawnya honaker

      April 16, 2023 at 9:25 pm

      what about Frontier CO-OP?

      Reply
      • Lisa

        May 5, 2023 at 6:46 pm

        I contacted Frontier bec I buy their spices in bulk from a local store. They said that they stans by their herbs and spices containing less than 1 ppm lead. I didn’t ask about other metals but I guess I need to.

        Reply
    • S. Painter

      August 1, 2023 at 11:40 am

      ~ I can sum it up in one phrase: THEY’RE KILLING US. It is simply PRE-MEDITATED MURDER OF THE MASSES…DEPOPULATION, if you please. We’d have to return to living as cave dwellers, so the corporate big whigs can take advantage of the bonuses and parachute clauses in their contracts. They don’t care a crap about us…it’s about overriding the will of the people and forcing their WILL on us. Whether or not we comply is only a matter of time. Whether it’s chem trails or through food poisoning, however, our health and blood will be forever on their heads. ~

      Reply
    • Kimberly Payton

      September 15, 2023 at 6:56 pm

      Good question.

      Its all freaking me out

      Reply
    • Devo

      May 7, 2024 at 6:56 pm

      Exactly what I want to know is what do all these decision making pathetic “human beings” use for themselves. It’s a full time job to just try and ensure the health and survival of my wife and children and one day we will all need to take a stand against these corrupt tyrants once and for all. Their biggest fear is that we all stop fighting each other and then go against the real enemy, which is the system it self. I hope that we can make the changes nessasry to our world for future generations sake.

      Reply
  16. Mama Davis

    May 21, 2022 at 2:13 pm

    I really appreciate the testing of so many items we encounter on a daily basis. I have become a bit paranoid because poison it is in every aspect of my day! I have thrown away my expensive “MY PIILOW” due to the polyurethane it contained and I worry when I sit on my couch or living room chair because they contain toxic materials. I have gotten rid of all my favorite dishes because they contained unhealthy amounts of lead and I panic when I prepare meals in any of my pans because they all emit a toxin. There is poison in just about everything I cook/eat; veggies and fruits with pesticides from the top 10 list and more, foods laced with glyphosate, unhealthy seafood (whether it be “farmed” or from the polluted ocean), juice with arsenic, almonds have cyanide, along with just about every spice I’ve purchased containing dangerous metals. I recently read about the materials in my workout clothes and my waterproof raincoats being hazardous to my health. The air fryer I wanted to buy is dangerous to cook with. So many foods are GMO’s? When you put it all together, we barely have a fighting chance. What do the company big shots that provide us with these products feed themselves and their families?

    Reply
    • Mari

      November 24, 2023 at 2:08 pm

      I would guess they have upper crust brands that keep their contamination to a minimum unless they are aliens but I bet they don’t eat our commoner stuff.

      Reply
  17. Kelli

    March 13, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    Hello! I am interested in purchasing some organic spices on the best list in bulk but Simply Organic doesn’t sell in bulk. Any ideas? Thank you!

    Reply
  18. Polly

    March 10, 2022 at 3:17 pm

    You never want to purchase non-organic spices unless you’re into eating irradiated spices or spices treated with toxic fumigation chemicals.
    But even organic spices can contain high levels of mycotoxins, possibly more because they haven’t been irradiated or fumigated.
    Ground spices are not a good choice in general, unless you know who is farming them and processing them and the methods they’re using.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous

    March 1, 2022 at 11:46 am

    If this helps, Fronteir Co-op is the producer for 365/Whole Foods brand to my knowledge

    Reply
  20. Michael C

    February 15, 2022 at 8:57 am

    I was directed to a product, cumin, on Amazon. It listed both US and India as the origin of the seeds. Package says India. Generally cumin from India has some of the higest levels of heavy metals. There’s a Prop 65 wanring on the package. I don’t trust these links.

    Reply
  21. J Smith

    January 25, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    Thanks for this article and your efforts to help us be safe and healthy! I will use this information well.

    Reply
  22. Toshi Estrella

    January 3, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    Thank you for taking the time to compile this list. It is greatly appreciated. But please spell TURMERIC correctly. LOL
    Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • M Lynn

      February 26, 2022 at 5:23 am

      What about “packaged” products that contain spices…almost all!
      Now what! Even organic canned tomatoes that I buy with garlic or Italian seasoning could be problematic. WOW! WOW! And I am a tiny person. I might be in more trouble than average sized people.

      Reply
  23. cookie clicker

    December 2, 2021 at 11:52 pm

    It seems that spices, and depending on how high the levels are and how often they are used to cook with can have a significant effect on a child.

    Reply
  24. Amy

    November 27, 2021 at 11:34 am

    I purchase many of my spices from Mountain Rose Herbs. Have you tested anything from them? Thank you for all you do!

    Reply
    • Paula

      November 28, 2021 at 6:39 pm

      I purchase from them, too! Organic spices and loose leaf teas. Would love to know if their stuff is uncontaminated as well.

      Reply
    • Leah Segedie

      December 1, 2021 at 5:00 am

      No I’m sorry, we haven’t.

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      January 9, 2023 at 9:59 am

      Go to the Mountain Rose web site. They have certificates of analysis for many, but not all, of their spices but you need to request them individually, there is not central data base. I did this via their chat and quickly received the complete reports for ginger, turmeric, and sweet cinnamon. You could probably email as well.

      Reply
  25. L.

    November 17, 2021 at 5:59 pm

    My air fryer is great at dehydrating my leafy spices. Thank you very much for an intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate website.

    Reply
    • Jim

      March 12, 2022 at 7:22 am

      I see you have tested some products from the Walmart great value brand. Did you test or do you know where I can see the results of testing on the great value organic turmeric?
      Thanks

      Reply
  26. Deanna Livingston

    November 17, 2021 at 7:39 am

    This was so informative! Thank you for all you do for us????. I grow several herbs and dry them myself, I’ll definitely continue to do so, but great to have this list for what I cannot grow!

    Reply
    • Eliza

      November 18, 2021 at 11:47 pm

      Thank you for the work you do!
      I’d like to know if you have information on toxin levels the Frontier Coop brand may have…in hoping they’re clean because I purchase most my spices from them.
      Thank you in advance!

      Reply
      • Amy

        November 27, 2021 at 11:33 am

        I would also like to know about Frontier Coop!

        Reply
        • Anna Miller

          December 9, 2021 at 6:41 am

          Agree that it would be great to know about Frontier Coop and Mountain Rose Herbs as these are popular, high quality brands.

          Reply
      • Kim

        November 22, 2022 at 8:23 am

        Eliza let us know about the Frontier brand spices in relation to heavy metals

        Reply
  27. Barbara Lizotte

    November 16, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    I was hoping for parsley, sage and rosemary to be included too. I use a lot of these along with many of those included in the report. Thank you so much for all you do!

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      December 30, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      Most parsley sage and rosemary are grow here in usa

      Reply
  28. Blaise Vanne

    November 16, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    We just need a quick article. This was WAY too involved. People only have time to scan stuff. Good content, but WAY too much fluff

    Reply
    • Ann

      November 17, 2021 at 5:14 am

      Really? They work so incredibly hard to gather this study. If you don’t read the study you are uninformed! Don’t just follow what people tell you to do. In the very least understand what is being discussed – it’s very important!

      Reply
    • Samba

      December 13, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      Need to learn, just be grateful!! Unbelievable! That is why the earth is going to pieces. Yes, it is in depth because it is valuable information. Be grateful

      Reply
  29. Kristen Wood

    November 16, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    Wow! So helpful. Thank you, Leah! I know what brand I’ll be buying from here on out. 🙂

    Reply
  30. Gabriella Bajazitovich

    November 16, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    Thank you ever so much! Who would have thought this? I know I certainly I would not in my wildest dreams! Thank you again!

    Reply
  31. Paula

    November 16, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    Oh wow! Thank you for your report! What about salt? And peppercorn?

    Reply
    • Yuleck

      November 17, 2021 at 5:23 am

      Hi, this is very helpful. I was also hoping to find information on Heavy Metals including Lead in green, black, and herbal teas by popular brands such as Republic of Tea, Smith tea, Hervey and Sons tea, Serendipity Tea.
      Much appreciated.

      Reply
      • Sherry Trollinger

        December 12, 2021 at 10:49 am

        My daughter works for Adams Spices. Are these good spices to consume. Thank you.

        Reply
      • Kayla

        May 31, 2023 at 5:51 am

        I just ordered sea salt from “Salt Works”. They seem to have a very thorough process to eliminate heavy metals. Still trying to find peppercorns!

        Reply
    • Manpreet

      December 3, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      Thank you first and foremost. Could you cover Salt? There are so many varieties Real Salt, Himalayan, Sea and so many brands.

      I just ordered from Redmond Life Store their All Seasoning, Garlic Pepper and Lemon Pepper and have their Real Salt and Organic Garlic Salt.

      Reply
      • Tia

        April 7, 2023 at 5:57 pm

        Lead safe mama has an article on her blog about safe and unsafe salt! Pink Himalaya salt is one of the bad ones according to her.

        Reply
      • Mari

        November 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

        The FDA allowed all salt to include fluoride a few years back so HIMALAYAN has it as far as I know so Salt is marginal as far as I am concerned to begin with. Fluoride doesn’t legally need to be put on the label. So many salts contain it.

        Reply

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