A densely populated region is impacted, with holiday cooking on the horizon.
Besides adding flavor (and a hint of heat) to meals and smoothies, ginger is a spice with “superfood” health credentials. Harvard experts highlight that it’s packed with antioxidants, is good for your gut health, can lower inflammation, protect against cell damage, and even work as a mild pain reliever. Yet following months of mounting reports that various brands of ground cinnamon contain levels of lead above the allowable standard, public health officials have issued a new regional recall after finding the potentially toxic metal in ginger, too—sparking more concern in the spice aisle.
A November 4 notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now warns that Eagle Spice and Extract Co., Inc., a Brooklyn-based company, has recalled 2,476 units of its Eagle Spice Ground Ginger after testing revealed the contamination. It’s reported the product was distributed across four states in and around the tri-state area: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The product appears to be sold via online retailers and grocery delivery services, among other outlets.
The report states affected units were sold in 16-ounce bottles and bear the lot code 24907EGGG. The items are marked with a “Best Used By” date of January 27, 2028.
The incident was first announced on October 7. In its latest update, the health authority has designated the incident a class II recall, indicating that the “product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences” but that “the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
However, “remote” doesn’t mean “risk-free.” The Mayo Clinic states that those with long-term lead exposure over the course of months to years may experience elevated blood levels could contribute to adverse health effects, including high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, poor memory or concentration, reproductive problems, developmental delays, learning difficulties, hearing loss, and other symptoms.
The FDA has further explained: “The potential for adverse health effects from consuming food contaminated with lead vary depending on the level of lead in the food; age of the consumer; length, amount, and frequency of exposure to lead in the food; and other exposures to different sources of lead.”
Why does this seem to be a rising issue, particularly with spices? There are several vulnerabilities in the global supply chain which make lead contamination possible, notes a recent CDC report: “Spices are often grown in countries polluted by leaded gasoline, smelters, battery manufacturing plants, and mines. Lead is deposited in soil and water from airborne pollutants and fertilizer application. Lead dust from grinding machinery can also contaminate spices. Spices might also be adulterated deliberately with lead to enhance color or increase weight,” they write, noting that in the U.S., no amount of lead is considered permissible in spices.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
- The “No. 1” Ice Cream Brand in America Just Recalled a Top Product In 30 States
- Fruit Sold at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Costco, Target, and Others Has Been Recalled Nationwide
- An Ongoing Nuts Recall Has Been Upgraded in 2 States
- A Widely-Used Drug for Cancer, Seizures, and More Has Been Recalled Nationwide by the FDA
