Chemicals · Metals
Lead in food
A metal that gets into food from soil, water and processing equipment; no safe level in children has been identified. FDA background
What's a lot?
FDA's daily interim reference level: 2.2 µg a day for children, 8.8 µg for women who are or may become pregnant. These are FDA's daily maximums from food. No safe level of lead has been identified. Source
Baby food, sweet potatoes (typically 21 ppb): a toddler reaches the FDA interim reference level with about 100 g (3.5 oz) a day; an adult with about 420 g (15 oz).
ppb means micrograms per kilogram of food: 100 ppb is 100 µg in 2.2 lb of food. A daily limit is about long-run averages; one high day is not the same as eating it every day.
Foods highest in lead
From FDA's Total Diet Study: everyday foods bought around the US and tested as eaten. FDA found lead in 113 of the 307 foods it tested.
| Food | Average | A toddler reaches the limit at |
|---|---|---|
| Baking powder 2020, found in 1 of 1 Baking/Cooking Mixes/Supplies · Baking Additives & Extracts · Baking Needs | 164 ppb | about 13 g (0.46 oz) a day adult: about 54 g (1.9 oz) |
| Cocoa powder 2020, found in 1 of 1 | 63 ppb | about 35 g (1.2 oz) a day adult: about 140 g (4.9 oz) |
| Baby food, sweet potatoes 2018-2020, found in 8 of 8 | 21 ppb | about 100 g (3.5 oz) a day adult: about 420 g (15 oz) |
| Baby food, teething biscuits 2018-2020, found in 8 of 8 | 17.8 ppb | about 120 g (4.2 oz) a day adult: about 490 g (17 oz) |
| Cookies, sandwich, with crème filling 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Cookies & Biscuits · Biscuits/Cookies · Biscuits/Cookies (Shelf Stable) | 13.4 ppb | about 160 g (5.6 oz) a day adult: about 660 g (23 oz) |
| Wine, white 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Alcohol · Alcoholic Beverages | 13 ppb | about 170 g (6 oz) a day adult: about 680 g (24 oz) |
| Salad dressing, ranch, low-calorie 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Salad Dressing & Mayonnaise · Salad Dressings | 12.6 ppb | about 170 g (6 oz) a day adult: about 700 g (25 oz) |
| Sweet potato, baked, peel removed 2017-2020, found in 19 of 27 | 12.1 ppb | about 180 g (6.3 oz) a day adult: about 730 g (26 oz) |
| Sauce, barbecue 2017-2020, found in 25 of 27 Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ & Cheese Sauce · Other Cooking Sauces · Sauces/Spreads/Dips/Condiments | 10.4 ppb | about 210 g (7.4 oz) a day adult: about 850 g (30 oz) |
| Raisins 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Fruit Prepared/Processed · Fruit - Prepared/Processed (Shelf Stable) · Fruit/Nuts/Seeds Combination | 9.7 ppb | about 230 g (8.1 oz) a day adult: about 910 g (32 oz) |
| Syrup, chocolate-flavored 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Milk Additives · Desserts/Dessert Sauces/Toppings | 9.2 ppb | about 240 g (8.5 oz) a day adult: about 960 g (34 oz) |
| Cake, chocolate with chocolate icing 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes · Cake, Cookie & Cupcake Mixes · Cakes - Sweet (Frozen) | 8.92 ppb | about 250 g (8.8 oz) a day adult: about 990 g (35 oz) |
"Average" counts samples below the lab's limit as zero. A food high on this list matters only if you eat a lot of it, which is what the last column shows.
Water. Lead in tap water usually comes from a home's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you; many utilities offer one free.
Official limits
- FDA action level for lead in baby food: 10 ppb (2025)For packaged baby foods for children under 2: fruits, vegetables (except single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures, yogurts, custards and single-ingredient meats. FDA may act against foods above it; it is not a safety threshold. Source
- FDA action level for lead in baby food: 20 ppb (2025)For single-ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals for children under 2. FDA may act against foods above it; it is not a safety threshold. Source
- CDC blood lead reference value (children): 3.5 µg/dL (2021)For blood lead in children 1 to 5 years old. Marks the highest 2.5% of US children; CDC uses it to start follow-up. It is not a safe level: no safe blood lead level has been identified. Source
Foods with lab results
1,867 named foods have published results; the 10 highest are below. Each links to the full record.
| Product | Median | Found in | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMT Khmeli Suneli TNT |
78,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Georgian saffron (zaprana) (brand not recorded) | 48,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Zaprana/Yellow Flower (brand not recorded) | 27,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Hviteli Hvavili (brand not recorded) | 21,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| No name Seasoning (brand not recorded) | 17,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Georgian spice (Yellow flour) (brand not recorded) | 14,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Zaprana (brand not recorded) | 13,502,900 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Orange Spice (brand not recorded) | 13,000,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Georgian Chilli Powder (brand not recorded) | 12,700,000 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Georgian spice (yellow flower) (brand not recorded) | 11,850,000 ppb | 2 of 2 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (334)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- Puspadhanwa Rasmedian 130,000,000 ppb, highest 130,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Gita Madhumehantak Vati (Ayurvedic)median 74,000,000 ppb, highest 74,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Liu Shen Wan (brand not recorded)median 58,000,000 ppb, highest 73,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Swarnamahayogamedian 41,000,000 ppb, highest 41,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Swarna Malini Vasant (Ayurvedic)median 31,000,000 ppb, highest 31,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Garbhapal Ras (Ayurvedic) (brand not recorded)median 22,000,000 ppb, highest 22,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Vatvidhwansan Ras (Ayurvedic)median 20,000,000 ppb, highest 20,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Ovarin (Ayurvedic)median 18,000,000 ppb, highest 24,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Praval Pishti (Ayurvedic)median 17,000,000 ppb, highest 17,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Garbhapal Ras (Ayurvedic)median 15,000,000 ppb, highest 15,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
Recent FDA recalls naming lead
178 recalls in FDA's records name lead as the reason; the 5 most recent are below.
- 2026-06-17 · U.S. Tov, Inc. dba U.S. Trading CompanyDRAGONFLY Thai Ginger Powder Net Weight: 4.37 oz (125 g) PRODUCT OF THAILAND Packed for: U.S. Trading Company Hayward, CA 94545-1130 UPC: 721557533567Potential contamination with lead. FDA record
- 2026-04-29 · Summit Import CorporationSpice Powder, 4 oz, Plastic BagLead level was higher than NYSAGM Standard. FDA record
- 2026-02-25 · Lotus Mom Corporation dba Indian Kitchen MartBrass Pital Pot 4-quart. Sticker label: BRASS HAMMERED HANDI NO 3 UPC 7 023672 414398 US $ 74.99 Sticker label: IKM INDIAN KITCHEN MARTPotential contamination with leachable lead. FDA record
- 2026-02-25 · Lotus Mom Corporation dba Indian Kitchen MartAluminum Kadai with Metal Handles Size 5. A-Cook MADE IN INDIA SIZE 5 Sticker label: $$24.99+TXPotential contamination with leachable lead. FDA record
- 2026-02-25 · Lotus Mom Corporation dba Indian Kitchen MartBrass Tope. Sticker label: $29.99+TAXPotential contamination with leachable lead. FDA record
Levels in people
CDC measures lead in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.