The FDA has taken bold enforcement action on the subject. At least three turmeric spice manufacturers — Gel Spice, JM Exotic Foods and Gel Spice — have been forced to issue “voluntary” recalls of their turmeric products due to dangerous levels of lead found in their spices. (See photos of the recalled products below.)
See the official FDA recall notices here, here, and here.
For once, it seems, the FDA is actually doing its job!
Any person consuming turmeric products without knowing their lead test results is no doubt eating huge quantities of a dangerous heavy metal linked to brain damage, bone disorders and heart damage. Lead is notoriously common in turmeric powders and turmeric products because turmeric is usually grown in high-lead soils in India, then imported into the United States.
“Lead can accumulate in the body over time,” warns one FDA recall page. “Too much can cause health problems, including delayed mental and physical development and learning deficiencies. Pregnant women, infants and young children especially should avoid exposure to lead. People concerned about blood lead levels should contact their physician or health clinic to ask about testing.”
The FDA still won’t claim how much lead is too much
The FDA spot checks food and supplement manufacturers across America, visiting their facilities and taking samples of their products for testing via ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Yet, shockingly, the FDA still refuses to tell the public how much lead is required to trigger a recall
There are now 6brands of turmeric being recalled due to lead contamination. So far, there have been no illnesses or injuries reported from the high lead levels in the turmeric, but Gel Spice, Inc., the company expanding the recall, is taking precautions.
The FDA lists the following products as being recalled due to potential lead contamination also see pics below:
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