Spice Safety Fact Sheet

Presented by Conrad Choiniere with FDA at the ASTA 2022 Regulatory Workshop on September 12, 2022, in this session, Dr. Choiniere will share updates on the agency’s initiative, “Closer to Zero”, a science-based and iterative approach for reducing early childhood exposure to toxic heavy metal compounds from foods commonly consumed by babies and young children.

In 2026, ASTA collaborated with academic and industry partners in Vietnam to conduct a follow-up study expanding upon 2025 research investigating the potential role of lichen and moss present on the outermost bark layer of Vietnamese cassia in relation to heavy metal contamination. By comparing lead concentrations in bark, underlying wood, and surface-growing lichen, the study confirmed that lichen function as bioaccumulators, effectively capturing airborne dust and heavy metal particulates from the surrounding environment. These findings indicate that lead contamination is primarily a surface issue, suggesting that the issue is manageable through targeted mitigation strategies, including lichen removal prior to cassia processing. As next steps, researchers will evaluate technical approaches for lichen removal, assess seasonal variability in lead accumulation, identify potential sources of airborne lead, and support the development of enhanced pre-processing standards and best practices.