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Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

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Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#11

Post by _adamb »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #8
natdempk wrote: post #3

See also "Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5415259/ The problem with lead in tumeric seems to extend beyond Bangladesh.

Yikes. Are their any trustworthy, mainstream sources of spices in the U.S.? E.g., if I buy turmeric from Walmart or Whole Foods, can I safely assume that they're monitoring the product streams for lead? EDIT: I just saw a sibling comment about a company named "American Turmeric". I'm curious about more mainstream sellers, who might possibly monitor other spices as well. I'd prefer to not play whack-a-mole on a spice-…

If you're consuming it as a supplement it's a lot cheaper (and safer) to just make it yourself. The process is basically: cut it up into thin slices, dry it out in the oven, grind it up.

If you're not taking it in supplement quantities, then I'm not sure I'd be tremendously worried about any other contamination...

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#12

Post by more_corn »

no_butterscotch wrote: post #4

I wonder if this turmeric spread and was sold in the West. My mother recently started taking "golden turmeric" and insists that it's a cure for a lot of ills. Maybe that's true I don't know, she sent me some articles a couple years ago. It was clear that she was influenced by Facebook groups. Hopefully the turmeric she takes is safe :(

Just convince her that it’s more magical (er, healthy) if she buys it fresh and grinds it herself.

It actually tastes better that way, richer and more earthy.

It does leave your fingers stained, but that is actually a benefit since it is a conversation starter.

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#13

Post by heywhatupboys »

This article screams "white american saviour"

WHO in 2023 writes like this??

> Food Safety authority representatives, flanked by soldiers in camouflage uniforms, magenta berets and guns slung over their shoulders, strode down the center of a busy street market in Dhaka, the capital city. The crowds parted.

> Men riding three-wheeled rickshaws pulled over. Street vendors stopped stirring their aromatic curries. The spice sellers wearing parti-colored lungi skirts fell silent. Some curious merchants, sitting atop stacks of potatoes, ginger, onions and garlic, jumped down to follow the entourage.

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#14

Post by UberFly »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #8
natdempk wrote: post #3

See also "Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5415259/ The problem with lead in tumeric seems to extend beyond Bangladesh.

Yikes. Are their any trustworthy, mainstream sources of spices in the U.S.? E.g., if I buy turmeric from Walmart or Whole Foods, can I safely assume that they're monitoring the product streams for lead? EDIT: I just saw a sibling comment about a company named "American Turmeric". I'm curious about more mainstream sellers, who might possibly monitor other spices as well. I'd prefer to not play whack-a-mole on a spice-…

After reading that article I personally won't trust any I buy from anywhere unless it's from a reputable source and actually states that it's tested/lead-free. Yikes.

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#15

Post by alephnerd »

no_butterscotch wrote: post #7
CoastalCoder wrote: post #5

Interesting article. One thing I'm left wondering though is: for the offending vendors, how aware were they of the potential harm they were causing? IMHO the punishment should, in some sense, scale with that detail. As a parent, if I found out that someone was knowingly poisoning my children for profit, I'd have some very uncharitable urges.

I do wonder if some of the dirt poor street-vendors were "in on it" or just the fall-guys.

It's bought wholesale at Mandis/Markets. Any kind of lead adulteration probably happened with the Spice Distributor (either the spice distributor or the wholesaler). If you are a street food vendor, your margins are low so you would probably go for the cheaper alternative.

The price of turmeric across SAARC also skyrocketed due to higher than average rainfall in MH+TG along with skyrocketing "Western Hipster Superfood" demand, which has a carryover effect to the Bangladesh and Nepal markets.

Farms -> Trader -> Wholesale Mandi/Market -> Spice Distributor -> Restaurant/Street Food Vendor

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#16

Post by lisasays »

_adamb wrote: post #11
CoastalCoder wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yikes. Are their any trustworthy, mainstream sources of spices in the U.S.? E.g., if I buy turmeric from Walmart or Whole Foods, can I safely assume that they're monitoring the product streams for lead? EDIT: I just saw a sibling comment about a company named "American Turmeric". I'm curious about more mainstream sellers, who might possibly monitor other spices as well. I'd prefer to not play whack-a-mole on a spice-…

If you're consuming it as a supplement it's a lot cheaper (and safer) to just make it yourself. The process is basically: cut it up into thin slices, dry it out in the oven, grind it up. If you're not taking it in supplement quantities, then I'm not sure I'd be tremendously worried about any other contamination...

Doesn't help at all if the roots themselves are dusted, as per the article. Right?

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#17

Post by dunham »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #8
natdempk wrote: post #3

See also "Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5415259/ The problem with lead in tumeric seems to extend beyond Bangladesh.

Yikes. Are their any trustworthy, mainstream sources of spices in the U.S.? E.g., if I buy turmeric from Walmart or Whole Foods, can I safely assume that they're monitoring the product streams for lead? EDIT: I just saw a sibling comment about a company named "American Turmeric". I'm curious about more mainstream sellers, who might possibly monitor other spices as well. I'd prefer to not play whack-a-mole on a spice-…

I buy from thespicehouse.com - they seem to be careful, but I haven't inquired about turmeric. I should send them an email. (I prefer them over Penzey's, which is the same family, because they have dried fenugreek leaves.)

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#18

Post by LetThereBeLight »

CoastalCoder wrote: post #8
natdempk wrote: post #3

See also "Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5415259/ The problem with lead in tumeric seems to extend beyond Bangladesh.

Yikes. Are their any trustworthy, mainstream sources of spices in the U.S.? E.g., if I buy turmeric from Walmart or Whole Foods, can I safely assume that they're monitoring the product streams for lead? EDIT: I just saw a sibling comment about a company named "American Turmeric". I'm curious about more mainstream sellers, who might possibly monitor other spices as well. I'd prefer to not play whack-a-mole on a spice-…

Burlap and Barrel I believe has a good reputation with their spice sourcing.

https://www.burlapandbarrel.com/products/turmeric

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#19

Post by valarauko »

I'm a little surprised at the initial confusion about the source of lead, or perhaps it's the way the article has been written. As someone who grew up in India, our school textbooks in the 90s had a list of common food adulterants, and turmeric adulteration with lead chromate was common knowledge to middle schoolers. I recall the curriculum included how to detect adulteration with simple at home tests. After turmeric, the next suspect probably would be yellow lentils.

EDIT: actually the next suspect should be red chillis, adulterated with lead oxide.

On an aside, food adulteration used to be such a common social menace in India in the 70s & 80s, such that it was a common theme in the backdrop of Bollywood films, with the hero taking on local mafia bosses who also dabble in food adulteration. India did a mediocre job controlling the rampant food adulteration, with the last major case I recall being an outbreak of Epidemic Dropsy in 1998 due to contamination of mustard oil. There's been cases every once in a while, though I suspect in those cases it is inadvertent contamination with Argemone plants growing in mustard fields.

Re: Turmeric’s unexpected link to lead poisoning in Bangladesh

#20

Post by _adamb »

lisasays wrote: post #16
_adamb wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're consuming it as a supplement it's a lot cheaper (and safer) to just make it yourself. The process is basically: cut it up into thin slices, dry it out in the oven, grind it up. If you're not taking it in supplement quantities, then I'm not sure I'd be tremendously worried about any other contamination...

Doesn't help at all if the roots themselves are dusted, as per the article. Right?

Good question. Most turmeric roots I've bought aren't nearly as bright orange as the powered stuff. I _assume_ that means they're not applying the same chromate brightening agent but it's not impossible.

I guess I'll have to start growing it myself...

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