Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was reviewed?
This commentary reviewed evidence on ground turmeric lead contamination, synthesizing case reports, product recalls, market surveillance, laboratory testing, and regulatory frameworks to assess risk pathways and needed controls for HTMC-grade spices in the United States. The authors detail pediatric lead-poisoning cases linked to contaminated spices, multi-state turmeric recalls, and FDA import alerts, and they present original measurements of lead concentrations and bioaccessibility from 32 retail turmeric samples purchased in Boston. The paper further contextualizes contamination drivers—particularly the suspected use of lead chromate to intensify color or weight in supply chains originating in India and Bangladesh—and contrasts these risks with the absence of US maximum lead levels for spices, thereby defining precise intersections between food safety policy and certification needs for heavy metals. Notably, the figure on page 2 visualizes sample concentrations up to 99.5 ppm and reports bioaccessibility estimates, underscoring ingestion hazard relevance for HTMC criteria.
Who was reviewed?
The review considered US consumers, especially children exposed via culinary use of turmeric, Asian families with higher spice intake, and supplement users, alongside supply-chain actors such as importers, repackagers, and retailers implicated in ground turmeric lead contamination events. It integrated public health case investigations from multiple states, FDA recall data across numerous brands, and retail-market sampling in the Boston area; international reporting from India and Bangladesh was used to illuminate adulteration practices at origin and national limits (2.5–10 ppm) abroad versus the current lack of a US spice-specific lead limit. Collectively, these groups represent sentinel populations and control points that HTMC certification must address to verify low-lead spices entering US commerce.
Most important findings
| Critical point | Details |
|---|---|
| High retail lead levels documented | Analysis of 32 retail turmeric samples found lead in all, median 0.11 ppm, with maxima at 34.78 and 99.50 ppm—values exceeding FDA’s 0.1 ppm candy benchmark used for comparison due to absent spice limits; the highest sample was also most bioaccessible. |
| Lead is readily bioaccessible | Estimated gastrointestinal bioaccessibility ranged 50–100% (mean ~70%), indicating substantial absorption potential from ingested turmeric powder. |
| Multiple US poisonings linked to spices | Pediatric cases across AZ, CA, CO, CT, and NY implicated contaminated spices including turmeric as primary exposure sources, with one child’s BLL at 28 µg/dL. |
| Widespread recalls across brands | At least 13 brands recalled; notable 2016 recalls spanned seven turmeric brands and ~337,000 lbs of curry powder, reflecting broad distribution. |
| Adulteration with lead chromate suspected | Reports from India and Bangladesh describe deliberate use of lead chromate to enhance color or mask defects in raw turmeric, aligning with elevated Cr in some samples. |
| Heightened US exposure potential | Imports ≈12 million lbs in 2014, per-capita import up 89% since 1966; turmeric is used widely in foods, supplements, and colorants, expanding population exposure. |
| Regulatory gap in US standards | Bangladesh/India specify 2.5–10 ppm limits and ban lead chromate; FDA lacks a spice-specific lead limit but uses inspections, testing, and import alerts. |
| Actionable screening recommendations | Authors endorse FDA import alert #28-13 and propose x-ray fluorescence screening at ports and targeted field assignments focused on turmeric. |
Key implications
For HTMC, primary regulatory impacts include substantiating a spice-specific lead limit and aligning with international thresholds to close US gaps. Certification requirements should mandate validated lot-based screening, bioaccessibility-informed action levels, and supply-chain audits targeting chromate adulteration. Industry applications involve importer verification programs, XRF triage, and ICP-MS confirmation. Research gaps include speciation of lead forms and chromium co-contamination. Practical recommendations emphasize origin controls, whole-root sourcing where feasible, and clear consumer and clinician guidance.
Citation
Cowell W, Ireland T, Vorhees D, Heiger-Bernays W. Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States. Public Health Reports. 2017;132(3):289-293. doi:10.1177/0033354917700109
