Lead contamination remains a persistent issue in spices imported into the United States. Last year, turmeric from India, imported by Spices USA, was discovered to contain dangerously high levels of lead, a problem that is frequently seen in spices like fenugreek, cardamom, and chili powder. Since the end of April 2017, importers have been required to screen suppliers under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program as mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). However, it is challenging to determine if these measures are adequate to combat lead contamination, especially since the origin of lead in these imported spices is still unclear. Researchers from Harvard have investigated soil as a potential source, but their findings were inconclusive. Some experts suggest that lead could enter the spice during processing or may even be deliberately added to increase the weight of the powder.
The ongoing detection of lead contamination emphasizes the critical need for rigorous safety checks. The FSMA, introduced in 2011, aimed to shift the focus from merely responding to food contamination incidents to actively preventing them. It called for the inspection of at least 600 foreign food companies in its inaugural year, with plans to double those inspections annually for the next five years. Unfortunately, the Government Accountability Office found that these inspection targets were only met during the first two years. By 2013, the FDA had inspected a total of 1,403 facilities, a figure that has remained stagnant since then. The FDA has cited insufficient funding as a reason for this shortfall.
In light of these issues, the need for enhanced oversight in the spice importation process is clear. Additionally, ensuring the safety of food products is paramount, particularly in the context of the increasing use of additives like calcium citrate 1500, which can also influence the purity and safety of spices. Therefore, continuous efforts to improve safety regulations and inspections are essential to protect consumers from lead and other contaminants in imported spices.