The Short Answer
McCormick is an acceptable mainstream choice, but itās not the cleanest option on the shelf.
The good news: McCormick was NOT part of the massive FDA lead recalls in 2024 and 2025 that affected over 18 discount spice brands. If you are worried about the "lead in cinnamon" headlines, McCormick is significantly safer than the dollar-store brands that were flagged.
The bad news: They have a history of heavy metal contamination in other products. Independent testing by Consumer Reports found "concerning" levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in McCormickās dried basil, ground oregano, and thyme. While they claim to test products, they do not share these results with consumers.
Why This Matters
Spices are concentrated. When you dry a plant like oregano or turmeric, you remove the water but keep the heavy metals the plant absorbed from the soil. This can create concentrations of lead and arsenic that far exceed what you'd find in fresh produce.
Most spice companies buy from the same massive global aggregators. This means "brand name" doesn't always equal "better sourcing." However, McCormick is one of the few with enough power to control its own supply chain more tightly than budget brands.
Recent FDA alerts have shown that cheap cinnamon is a major lead risk, often due to adulteration (adding lead chromate for color). McCormickās avoidance of this scandal proves their supply chain is cleaner than the bottom of the barrel, but they still lag behind transparency-focused brands like Burlap & Barrel or Simply Organic.
What's Actually In McCormick Spices
McCormick products are generally just the spice itself, but the processing and contamination are where the details matter.
- Steam Sterilization ā McCormick uses steam to kill bacteria. This is a huge green flag. Many conventional spices are irradiated (blasted with radiation) or fumigated with ethylene oxide (a carcinogen) to kill bugs. McCormick calls this "Naturally Cleaned," and it is the safest industrial method.
- Heavy Metals ā Soil contamination is the issue here. Tests have found lead, arsenic, and cadmium in their leafy herbs (basil, oregano, thyme) and root spices (ginger, turmeric). Heavy Metals In Spices
- Plastic Contamination ā In early 2024, McCormick had to recall specific batches of cinnamon because a worn grinding wheel dumped plastic fragments into the product. This was a manufacturing error, not a chemical additive.
What to Look For
Green Flags:
- "Steam Sterilized" ā Confirms no irradiation or chemical fumigation.
- Country of Origin Labeling ā While not always present, single-origin sourcing is usually cleaner than "packed in USA" blends.
- Whole Spices ā Buying whole peppercorns or nutmeg and grinding them yourself drastically reduces the risk of fillers and adulteration. Whole Vs Ground Spices
Red Flags:
- "Packed in USA" ā Often means the spices were imported from multiple unknown countries and just mixed here.
- Dried Leafy Herbs ā Oregano and Thyme are notorious for soaking up heavy metals. Fresh is almost always safer than dried for these specific plants.
- No Test Results ā If a company won't show you a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for lead testing, you are taking their word for it.
The Best Options
If you want to move beyond "acceptable" to "actually clean," look for brands that publish their testing standards.
| Brand | Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlap & Barrel | Royal Cinnamon | ā | Single-origin, direct trade, and strict lead limits (<1 ppm). |
| Simply Organic | Ceylon Cinnamon | ā | Consistently tests lower for metals in third-party studies. |
| McCormick | Ground Cinnamon | ā ļø | Safe from recent lead recalls, but lacks transparency. |
| Badia / Supreme Tradition | Any Spice | š« | Frequently cited in heavy metal recalls. Avoid. |
The Bottom Line
1. Keep the McCormick Cinnamon. If you have it in your pantry, itās likely safe from the lead scandal. Just check the lot number for the early 2024 plastic recall.
2. Swap the Dried Herbs. For basil, oregano, and thyme, McCormick has tested poorly. Switch to Simply Organic or grow them fresh to avoid heavy metals.
3. Upgrade Your Turmeric. Turmeric is the #1 source of lead in spices. Don't trust generic brands. Buy Diaspora Co. or Burlap & Barrel for this specific spice. Lead In Turmeric
FAQ
Was McCormick cinnamon recalled for lead?
No. McCormick was not included in the 2024-2025 FDA alerts for lead-contaminated cinnamon. Those alerts mostly affected discount brands like Marcum, Supreme Tradition, and El Chilar. McCormick did have a smaller recall in 2024 for plastic contamination in specific batches.
Does McCormick irradiate their spices?
No. McCormick uses steam sterilization to clean their spices. This is a chemical-free, radiation-free process that uses high-temperature steam to kill bacteria. This is safer and preserves more flavor than irradiation. Is Spice Irradiation Safe
Is McCormick organic?
They have an organic line (McCormick Gourmet Organic), which is non-GMO Project Verified. While organic certification prevents pesticide use, it does not guarantee low heavy metals, as these come from the soil, not sprays. However, organic lines often have slightly better quality control.