FAQs: Heavy Metals in Spices
This document covers Frequently Asked Questions about heavy metals in spices. The topics of questions include safety, the involvement of the FDA and regulatory authorities, availability, limits, and stewardship efforts.
01/05/2023 at 5:16 am
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Related Resources
Research Report on Heavy Metals in Vietnamese Cassia
In 2022, ASTA partnered with several NGOs (GREAT, IDH, CRED) to conduct a pilot study to identify the contributing factors of heavy metals in Vietnamese cassia. The study evaluated levels of heavy metals in the environment (soil, water, air) and in cassia products (fresh & dried). The study did not find a significant relationship between concentrations of heavy metals in the environment and in cassia. However, preliminary data supplied by a cinnamon exporting company demonstrated the potential to significantly reduce the concentration of heavy metals in finished cassia products by peeling the outermost layer of the bark.
Publication - Enhanced lead accumulation in cassia bark linked to lichen and algae: a case study from Northern Vietnam
Researchers in Vietnam have published a study examining lead accumulation in cassia bark. The study was initiated last year as a collaborative effort between ASTA, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and cassia exporters.
