Does your favorite cinnamon contain traces of the herbicide glyphosate or high amounts of lead or cadmium? This is the question Mamavation was trying to answer for our community when we sent several cinnamon products to an EPA-certified laboratory. After babies all over the country were lead poisoned from the cinnamon inside recalled baby food, our audience was notably concerned. Then after testing several cinnamon products, we have some good news and some bad news to share. You’ve trusted Mamavation to cover topics like safest salt products tested for lead and microplastics, safest cookware sans PFAS “forever chemicals,” and safest nut butters sans PFAS “forever chemicals,” now join us for our latest consumer study on cinnamon tested for glyphosate, lead, & cadmium.
Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. Scientific reviews were performed by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, (2) Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program & Scholar in Residence at Duke University, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, & Yale University, & (3) Scott Belcher, Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental & Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that were not tested in our EPA-certified laboratory. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. Affiliate links from this post are mostly to Amazon where Mamavation earns a small portion of that sale. Mamavation uses affiliate revenue and ad revenue from Mamavation.com to pay for testing and fund other consumer investigations in the future. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you for supporting Mamavation! Copyright © 2024 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved
Mamavation’s EPA Laboratories Find Glyphosate, Lead, & Cadmium in Both Conventional & Organic Cinnamon
Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory tested for glyphosate, lead, & cadmium and found detections of all contaminants inside cinnamon products sold in the United States after analyzing 15 organic and conventional cinnamon products. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects, which we will discuss later. Because heavy metals and glyphosate are so toxic, Mamavation has commissioned our own scientific studies on cinnamon to make recommendations for the safest cinnamon products available on the market today. Read Mamavation’s articles on these products to find which brands are free from detectable glyphosate and have the lowest lead & cadmium.
Here’s what our EPA-certified laboratory communicated to us about the cinnamon products tested:
If cinnamon were considered a “baby food” 100% of the products would fail the new proposed standards for lead in baby food based on a standard of 10 ppb limit for category fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats.
100% of cinnamon products had detectable lead and cadmium. That’s 15 out of 15 total cinnamon products.
53% of cinnamon products tested had amounts of lead above California Prop. 65 warning levels based on 1 gram of serving size per day. That’s 8 out of 15 cinnamon products.
Ranges of lead detected were between 0.44 ug/kg and 1259.35 ug/kg. Ug/kg can also be communicated as parts per billion (ppb).
Ranges of cadmium detected were between 72.61 ug/kg and 257.34 ug/kg. These levels do not exceed California’s Prop. 65 warning levels if 1 gram per day is used.
40% of total cinnamon products tested had detectable amounts of toxic glyphosate herbicide. That’s 6 out of 15 of both conventional and organic cinnamon products.
Of those products, when just looking at USDA organic products, 45% of organic products had detectable glyphosate. That’s 5 out of 11 USDA organic cinnamon products.
All USDA organic Ceylon cinnamon products tested had detectable amounts of glyphosate according to our lab.
Ranges of glyphosate detected were between 10 ppb and 26 ppb. The detection limit was 10 ppb.
As you can see, from the products we tested, which were primarily USDA organic, we found concerning amounts of lead in more than half the products. In addition, one organic brand was shockingly high in comparison to other brands. This brand may fail California Prop. 65 standards if the serving size per day was 1 teaspoon. We also found traces of glyphosate herbicide in all the USDA organic Ceylon cinnamon products.
Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program & Scholar in Residence at Duke University, Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina, & Yale University had this to say: “There is no reason that glyphosate, lead, or cadmium should be in our food. Everyone knows that lead and cadmium are toxic metals, and the evidence is growing that glyphosate is a problem for human health.”
Health Impacts of Glyphosate, Lead, & Cadmium
Glyphosate
Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is the active ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) and is the most popular herbicide in the world. Environmental exposure to this broad-based herbicide has increased dramatically since the introduction of “Round-up Ready” genetically modified (GMO) crops in 1996 for soybean, maize, and cotton varieties. “Round-up Ready” genetically modified crops made it possible to utilize glyphosate as a broadcast herbicide while not killing the crops they were sprayed on. Glyphosate is also extensively used for deforestation efforts, such as killing brush in fire zones, and is also relied on heavily by landscapers to kill weeds on green belts and golf courses. Ultimately, glyphosate is used for eliminating weeds and shrubs, such as annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds, and woody species.
Glyphosate is applied in a variety of forms: isopropylamine salt, ammonium salt, diammonium salt, dimethylammonium salt, and potassium salt. Thus it’s important to understand that when glyphosate is applied to crops or weeds, it includes additional adjuncts inside the formulation that make it more toxic and thus easier for the plants to uptake. These glyphosate formulations have also proven to be toxic to humans as well. However, companies don’t have to publicly disclose other proprietary chemicals in these herbicide formulations, and therefore, regulators and researchers can’t fully study these chemicals to determine their health effects.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) within the World Health Organization deemed glyphosate a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015. Since then, many additional studies have been done focusing on the health impacts of glyphosate. Here are some of those outcomes in terms of health effects:
Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Green Chemistry & Director of the Institute for Green Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University had this to say about the consumer study: “I find this remarkable study by Mamavtation to be truly disturbing. The number one piece of advice I give to Carnegie Mellon students who take my Chemistry and Sustainability Class about how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the myriad toxic products of today’s chemical enterprise is to eat organic. Who would have thought that this could be a fake label on so many brands of the much-beloved spice, cinnamon? After all, cinnamon trees are grown in plantations these days, so it should be easy to protect the organic brand in the growing phase from glyphosate. The heavy metals are a different challenge. Soils and phosphate fertilizers can be contaminated. The US is the world’s leading importer of cinnamon — Mamavation’s study calls for much more aggressive policing of both indigenous and imported products and of both organic and non-organic varieties.”
Lead
Pediatricians agree that lead presents a dangerous exposure for children because of the many permanent problematic health outcomes according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Here are some of the health outcomes that are linked to lead exposure in children:
Lower IQ scores
Underperformance in school
Developmental delays
Behavioral issues such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Hearing and speech problems
Dr. Phillip Landrigan, Director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences, has been warning patients about lead since the 1970’s. He says, “The problem is no level of lead is safe. Even low levels, especially if those low levels continue over many months, is going to cause some degree of brain damage at least to some of the children who are exposed.” The Centers for Disease Control has also concluded there is no safe level of lead. This does not mean ALL children will have this outcome, but some children absolutely will according to research.
Even when exposure has stopped, some children (not necessarily all) will have permanent issues. Some studies have found chelation is a way doctors can lower extremely high levels of lead within a child, however, these chelation practices have not been linked to better behavioral outcomes. It’s better to have not been exposed.
Cadmium
In terms of impacts on children, cadmium crosses the placental barrier easily reaches the fetus. Even moderate exposure levels during pregnancy can lead to serious health consequences. However, these health consequences may not present themselves right away and may lead to problems in development or other such issues in adulthood.
Here are some health problems associated with cadmium exposure:
New Proposed FDA Lead & Cadmium Limits for Baby Food vs. California Prop. 65
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new limits for lead in baby food yet has not yet taken action to solidify them into regulations. It’s unclear how long it will take the FDA to consult with stakeholders, i.e. baby food companies & farmers, but here are the proposed levels for lead in baby food that will be an improvement.
10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats;
20 ppb for root vegetables (single ingredient); and
20 ppb for dry infant cereals.
As you may notice, root vegetables allow for higher amounts of lead than other types of foods because root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots consistently test for higher heavy metals regardless of whether they are organic. This is because they draw heavy metals from the soil in higher amounts than many other crops.
Right now California has the strictest lead limits in the nation. However, there is a big difference between what the FDA is proposing to do with baby food and what California does. California only has a “right to know” law whereas the FDA will establish limits and have authority to recall products from shelves that go above their limits. California has a list of carcinogens and reproductive toxins at safe harbor levels where brands need to provide a “Prop. 65 Warning” when products have chemicals on the list above their safe harbor levels per day.
So how does this pertain to cinnamon? It’s a bit confusing. Instead of simply basing the levels on what the lab reports, California requires an exposure analysis to be done that ends up being a limit of micrograms per day of exposure. Let’s use the proposed FDA limits for baby food and baby food pouches with 113 grams of serving size as an example. If the labs found 10 ppb of lead (the proposed FDA limit for lead), the California lead exposure calculation would look like this: 10 ug/kg /1000 x 113 (serving size in grams) = 1.13 ug/day and would require a Prop. 65 warning because it’s over 0.5 ug/day for lead. If the lab found 5 ppb, the calculation would look like this: 5/1000 x 113 = 0.565 ug/day and would require a Prop. 65 warning because it’s over 0.5 ug/day. If the lab found 2 ppb, the calculation would look like this: 2/1000 x 113 = 0.226 ug/day and would NOT require a Prop. 65 warning.
Here are the warning levels in micrograms per day for Prop. 65:
California Prop. 65 Warning Levels micrograms per day for lead: 0.5 ug/day.
California Prop. 65 Warning Levels micrograms per day for cadmium: 4.1 ug/day
California Prop. 65 Warning Levels micrograms per day for arsenic: 10 ug/day
California has no warning levels for inorganic mercury
How Does Glyphosate Get Into Organic Cinnamon Products?
In order to find out how glyphosate could get into USDA organic products, we interviewed Henry Rowlands, Director of the Detox Project, which is an organization that certifies food products as “glyphosate residue-free.” The “glyphosate residue-free” certification tests food products three times per year and requires non-detect results at the lowest standardized method in order to maintain the certification. Over the years, they have also assisted brands in lowering their glyphosate residue before receiving certification. In other words, he’s worked with many brands as they were identifying and lowering glyphosate and has intimate knowledge of how glyphosate contamination can find its way into USDA organic and conventional food products.
Henry Rowlands, Director of the Detox Project had this to say about the surprising glyphosate findings, “Some organic supply chains are simply not tested enough, which enables room for concerning practices, in which non-organic produce is sold as certified organic. This seems to be the case with cinnamon, as we have tested multiple organic cinnamon samples with high levels of glyphosate. The levels in this current testing project are not high but show a continuing concerning trend.”
We further asked Henry what could explain this level of glyphosate and he responded this could be an example of fraudulent practices whereas glyphosate is used to dry out the cinnamon before it’s cut into sticks and packaged OR glyphosate could be sprayed around the base of the trees. Neither situation is preferred by consumers because when you pay top dollar for USDA organic products, you are assuming they are following USDA Organic protocol and use of glyphosate is not prohibited. We encourage these brands to contact Henry Rowlands at the Detox Project and work with him to clean up their practices and get their products certified so that consumers can make purchases in the future with confidence.
Lead in Cinnamon in Baby Food Poisons Children
In January of 2024, hundreds of complaints were received by the Food and Drug Administration for potential cases of lead poisoning after consuming three different branded products of cinnamon-flavored applesauce.
WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches – including three packs
Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack
Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches
The Centers for Disease Control defined poisoning as having a blood lead level of 3.5 µg/dL or higher measured within 3 months after consuming a recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand fruit puree product after November 2022. As of January 26, CDC has received reports of 98 confirmed cases, 269 probable cases, and 37 suspected cases for a total of 404 cases from 43 different states through their reporting structure.
After further investigation, it was discovered that the lead was coming from the cinnamon. Ecuadorian officials reported that Carlos Aguilera of Ecuador, the processor of the ground cinnamon supplied by Negasmart to Austrofoods and later used in recalled apple cinnamon products, is the likely source of contamination. He was found to have added lead chromate to the cinnamon, likely to give it a bolder and more attractive color. That ground cinnamon contained far higher lead levels, from 2,270 ppm to 5,110 ppm. (Alternatively reported as 2,270,000 ppb to 5,110,000 ppb)
Later, six additional brands of ground cinnamon powder were encouraged to have a voluntary recall by the FDA with levels between 2.12 ppm and 3.40 ppm. (Alternatively reported as 2,120 ppb to 3,400 ppb)
Additional Mamavation Consumer Studies For Your Family
Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the food and consumer products you may bring inside your home. Each one of these studies were done in a similar fashion as this study with brands sent independently to the lab and raw data of those labs at the bottom of the post.
Mamavation’s EPA-Certified Laboratory Results
2 sets of 15 cinnamon products were purchased via Amazon and Instacart in February 2024. Each product was recorded in our database, pictures were taken, and then sent directly to two different EPA-certified laboratories within its original packaging: one lab to test for heavy metals and another lab to test for glyphosate.
After the results were given by each laboratory, we spent some time analyzing the data to determine where to rank each product. We decided upon the following for each category based on advisement from our scientific team:
Not Our Favorite Category: These products were found to have detectable glyphosate according to our EPA-certified laboratory OR they have over 1,000 ug/kg of lead. Some of these products also would require Prop. 65 warnings based on 1 gram of cinnamon per day.
Better Category: These cinnamon products were not found to have any detectable glyphosate by our EPA-certified lab. However, these cinnamon products were reported to have levels of heavy metals that could require a Prop. 65 warning in the State of California based on consumption of 1 gram per day.
Best Category: These cinnamon products were not found to have any detectable glyphosate or have concerning levels of lead or cadmium based on safe harbor levels of Prop. 65.
As an explainer, California Prop. 65 would require a warning accounting for 1 gram of cinnamon per day at 500 ppb lead and 4,100 ppb cadmium or more. Please also note that ug/kg = parts per billion (ppb).
Not Our Favorite Cinnamon
These products were found to have detectable glyphosate according to our EPA-certified laboratory OR they have over 1,000 ug/kg of lead. Some of these products also could require Prop. 65 warnings based on 1 gram of cinnamon per day. (ug/kg = ppb) As an explainer, California Prop. 65 would require a warning accounting for 1 gram of cinnamon per day above 500 ppb lead and 4,100 ppb cadmium or more.
Anthony’s Ceylon Cinnamon Powder Organic Gluten-Free — Non-detect glyphosate, 1,259.35 ug/kg lead, & 245.02 ug/kg cadmium
From Great Origins Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder — 13 ppb glyphosate, 570.31 ug/kg lead, & 212.06 ug/kg cadmium
Frontier Co-op Organic Fair Trade Ceylon Cinnamon — 26 ppb glyphosate, 551.97 ug/kg lead, & 105.64 ug/kg cadmium
McCormick Cinnamon Ground — 11 ppm glyphosate, 68.73 ug/kg lead, & 139.33 ug/kg cadmium
Simply Organic Ceylon Cinnamon — 10 ppb glyphosate, 0.44 ug/kg lead, & 141.41 ug/kg cadmium
Spicely Organics Organic Cinnamon Ground Ceylon — 15 ppb glyphosate, 727.64 ug/kg lead, & 112.64 ug/kg cadmium
True Organic Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder — 11 ppb glyphosate, 509.35 ug/kg lead, & 107.6 ug/kg cadmium
Better Cinnamon
These cinnamon products were not found to have any detectable glyphosate by our EPA-certified lab. However, these cinnamon products were reported to have levels of heavy metals that would require a Prop. 65 warning in the State of California based on consumption of 1 gram per day or more. (ug/kg = ppb) As an explainer, California Prop. 65 could require a warning accounting for 1 gram of cinnamon per day at 500 ppb lead and 4,100 ppb cadmium.
Best Cinnamon
These cinnamon products were not found to have any detectable glyphosate or have concerning levels of lead or cadmium. (ug/kg = ppb) As an explainer, California Prop. 65 would require a warning accounting for 1 gram of cinnamon per day at 500 ppb lead and 4,100 ppb cadmium or more.
365 Whole Foods Market Organic Cinnamon Ground — Non-detect glyphosate, 14.87 ug/kg lead, & 93.75 ug/kg cadmium
Morton & Basset Spice Organic Ground Cinnamon — Non-detect glyphosate, 22.1 ug/kg lead, & 72.61 ug/kg of cadmium
Simply Organic Cinnamon — Non-detect glyphosate, 338.32 ug/kg lead, & 218.67 ug/kg cadmium
Spice Islands Est. 1941 Organic Ground Saigon Cinnamon — Non-detect glyphosate, 93.75 ug/kg lead, & 257.34 ug/kg cadmium
Spice Islands Ground Saigon Cinnamon — Non-detect glyphosate, 293.21 ug/kg lead, & 240.09 ug/kg cadmium