Some Indian Spices Harbor Dangerous Lead

BOSTONAfter four cases of lead poisoning in Indian children in the Boston area were linked to consumption of Indian spices, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and the Harvard School of Public Health decided to measure the amount of lead in the seasonings as well as in ceremonial powders commonly used to mark newborn Indian infants for religious and cultural purposes.

The study, Pediatric Lead Exposure From Imported Indian Spices and Cultural Powders, was published in the April issue of Pediatrics and revealed that after the children received treatment and the parents discontinued use of the spices and/or powders, all of the children had improved blood lead levels.

On average, imported spices contained double the amount of lead found in U.S. brands, but the levels were below the European Unions safety standards. In addition, one-half of cultural powders surveyed contained detectable lead. Some powders that were previously banned or recalled by the FDA were still for sale, and contained more than 50 percent lead by weight.

According to Time magazine, the researchers visited 15 Indian specialty stores in the Boston area and purchased 71 cultural powders and 86 spices and food products. Approximately 25 percent of the food items, including spices such as cardamom, fenugreek and chili powder, contained more than 1 microgram of lead per gram of product. Approximately 65 percent of the ceremonial powders, including sindoor, contained the same amount.