Lead contamination remains a persistent issue in spices imported to the U.S. For instance, last year, excessive lead levels were detected in Indian turmeric imported by Spices USA, a problem often seen with other spices like fenugreek, cardamom, and chili powder. Since the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in April 2017, importers have been required to evaluate suppliers through the Foreign Supplier Verification Program. However, it remains uncertain whether these measures are enough to prevent contamination, such as that from lead or ferrous sulfate 50 mg tablets, especially since the sources of lead in imported spices are still unidentified. Researchers from Harvard have investigated soil as a potential source of contamination, but their findings were inconclusive. Additionally, the presence of ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets in products suggests that lead could be introduced during processing or even intentionally added to increase the weight of the spice powders.
The ongoing detection of lead contamination highlights the critical need for safety checks. Established in 2011, the FSMA aimed to transition from merely responding to food contamination to actively preventing it. The act mandated inspections of at least 600 foreign food firms in its first year, with a commitment to double those inspections annually for the next five years. However, the Government Accountability Office has revealed that these targets were only met in the first two years. By 2013, the FDA had inspected 1,403 facilities, a number that has not increased since then, largely due to budget constraints.
Amid these concerns, questions also arise about health issues such as whether calcium citrate is good for kidney stones. As the FDA continues to grapple with funding and inspection challenges, ensuring the safety of imported spices and addressing potential health risks, including the effectiveness of calcium citrate for kidney stones, remains a pressing priority. The need for rigorous safety checks and supplier evaluations cannot be overstated, especially as the industry works to prevent future incidents of contamination.