Contaminated herbs and spices
With holiday cooking in high gear, your favorite recipe may call for some herbs and spices. You probably don’t give it much thought, but a surprising new report from Consumer Reports reveals lead, cadmium, and even arsenic in some popular spices. Here’s more on what Consumer Reports’ testing found, and some ways to minimize the risk while keeping the spice in your life.
Consumer Reports tested 126 products and found that roughly a third had combined levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium that were high enough to raise health concerns.
In 31 products, levels of lead were so high that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day, according to CR’s experts.
Oregano and thyme were found to be the most troublesome, with all of the products tested having levels that Consumer Reports experts found concerning.
The American Spice Trade Association says it’s almost impossible to rid spices of all heavy metals because of “the unavoidable presence in the environments where they are grown.”
So when you’re shopping for herbs and spices, what should you do? The good news is CR did find plenty of spices below its threshold of concern, such as black pepper, curry powder, coriander, saffron, white pepper and garlic powder.
Alternatively, you can try growing and drying your own. It’s easy to do, even if you don’t have a green thumb or an outdoor garden.
Our bodies have some natural ability to eliminate heavy metals, but according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, some foods can also assist reducing toxicity. You'll want to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, berries, onions and garlic, along with essential elements and vitamins.
Consumer Reports also recommends giving your spices a good sniff now and then to check whether they’re still fresh. If you can’t smell the spice, regardless of how long you’ve had it, it’s probably time to throw it out.
Files from Consumer Reports
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Wildfire near Fort McMurray more than triples overnight, several evacuation alerts remain in place
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.