Listen to Story High levels of lead have been found in various samples of turmeric sold in India, Nepal and Pakistan, according to a recent study. These levels are higher than the regulatory limit surpassing 1,000 micrograms per gram (μg/g) per dose. India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) sets the maximum allowable lead content in turmeric at 10 μg/g.
The study, published in Science of The Total Environment , analysed turmeric from 23 cities across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, revealing that about 14% of samples exceeded lead concentrations of 2 μg/g. The researchers from Stanford University, in collaboration with Pure Earth and India's Freedom Employability Academy, stated that the metal can interfere with essential bodily functions by mimicking calcium and accumulating in bones. Turmeric lead levels exceeded 10 μg/g from seven cities in total: Patna, Guwahati, and Chennai in India, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar in Pakistan.
In India, Patna recorded the highest level at 2,274 μg/g, followed by Guwahati at 127 μg/g. Interestingly, polished turmeric roots, often used to enhance appearance, showed the highest contamination levels, followed by loose powders. Packaged and branded turmeric products contained relatively lower lead concentrations , suggesting that loose and under-regulated forms of turmeric could be more susceptible to contamination.
Packaged and branded turmeric products contained relatively lower lead concent.