According to a study published in the Science of The Total Environment journal, turmeric samples from Patna in India, and Karachi and Peshawar in Pakistan, have been found to contain dangerously high levels of lead, surpassing 1,000 micrograms per gram (μg/g). This level exceeds the limits set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which were also surpassed in samples from Guwahati and Chennai. The study indicated that lead chromate, a yellow pigment commonly used in paints, rubber, plastics, and ceramic coatings, is the most probable source of lead contamination in the turmeric samples.
As per FSSAI’s Food Safety And Standards (Contaminants, Toxins And Residues) Regulations, 2011, the regulatory limit for lead in turmeric whole and powder is 10 μg / g.
As per the study, consuming turmeric with lead at these alarming levels would contribute to lead poisoning, which is dangerous for adults and kids majorly.
Well, while the study stresses subsequent efforts to be made in exploring the turmeric supply chain in these regions, health experts feel that the best way to consume turmeric is to buy organic ones and get them churned into powder manually to have the least level of adulteration.
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