Dangerous metals in spices on US shelves

According to Consumer Reports, 1/3 of samples contained concerning or dangerous levels.

Didn't matter if they were 'organic.'

Every brand tested had lots of lead, arsenic and cadmium.

Reasons? May be grown in areas where heavy metals are abundant in the soil. Grown and imported in large quantities because they're popular.

Probably won't harm anyone eating a few times a week, but if combined with other sources of exposure like in water and in foods, it could be dangerous, particularly for children whose bodies are still developing. Heavy metals can't be easily cleared or metabolized, so they accumulate in the body.

Consumer reports put a list on their website so people could check the dangerous ones and throw them out.

The industry is largely self-regulated, and checks (FDA) are usually for bacteria (like salmonella).