The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nations’ international body for food standards, has established new limits for lead levels in spices and culinary herbs. This decision aims to mitigate the potential toxic effects of lead consumption in food products, particularly targeting cinnamon.
During its meeting in Rome, from November 10 to 14, the Commission set the maximum permissible lead limit at 2.5 mg/kg for spices and dried bark, while capping the lead limit for culinary herbs at 2 mg/kg. This update will be integrated into the General standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed, designated as CXS 193-1995.
The decision to impose these limits stems from concerns over lead’s toxicity on human health. Evidence indicates that elevated lead levels can negatively affect neurodevelopment in children, resulting in decreased Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and attention span. Additional health risks linked to lead exposure include impaired renal function, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, reduced fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) emphasized the necessity of assessing lead safety levels in spices and culinary herbs despite their small consumption quantities, underscoring the importance of protecting consumers and ensuring fair trade practices.
In tandem with these measures, the Codex panel also adopted a resolution to revise the code of practice for minimizing aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts (peanuts). Aflatoxins are recognized as potent liver carcinogens and possess various acute, chronic, genotoxic, and immunosuppressive properties. The code includes recommended practices to diminish aflatoxin risks at different stages of the food supply chain—spanning pre-harvest through to manufacturing processes.
The existing code of practice for aflatoxins, developed two decades ago, has been updated with new information about reducing contaminants, along with guidance on the effects of roasting and norms for feed.
Moreover, the Commission has allowed the use of reference materials that laboratories utilize to test pesticide residues beyond their expiration dates, a move aimed at reducing costs and minimizing waste.
Lastly, after ten years of collaborative efforts, the Codex panel has adopted a standard for fresh dates. This initiative addresses the growing trade in dates, establishing internationally agreed-upon minimum quality and safety requirements, including parameters related to size, shape, color, uniformity, and packaging.
The developments were officially published on November 12, 2025.
