Holidaymakers are being urged to take extra care when buying spices abroad this festive season, after a recent case of lead poisoning has raised health concerns.

The warning comes after a Northolt resident was taken ill and found to have high levels of lead in their blood. An investigation by Ealing Council and the UK Health Security Agency traced potential sources of exposure and found dangerous levels of the metal in spices the resident had brought back from holiday in Southeast Asia.

Tests revealed one sample of coriander contained 3,400mg of lead per kilogram, far above the UK legal limit of 0.9mg per kg. Consuming just 2 grams of this contaminated coriander would exceed safe levels.

Why is lead added to spices?

Lead is sometimes added to spices to enhance colour and increase weight. This practice is most commonly found in imported herbs and spices, particularly those with reddish or brown colouring.

In this case, the contaminated coriander was possibly brought from a street market in Southeast Asia.

Health risks

Although incidents are rare, lead exposure is a serious health concern. It is a strong neurotoxin and is linked to more than 60% of cases of unexplained developmental intellectual disability worldwide. Pregnant women, babies, and young children are especially at risk.

According to health experts, children exposed to lead during early development may suffer from lower IQ, behavioural problems, and nerve damage.

There is no safe level of lead exposure, and symptoms often appear only after prolonged or high-level contact.

Other common sources of lead

While UK regulations strictly control lead levels in water, air, and food, imported products can pose risks, other common sources include:

• herbs and spices
• traditional medicines and tonics
• kohl (eye makeup)
• opium
• lead pipes
• fishing weights

Protecting residents

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “We work hard every day to keep our residents healthy and safe. The awful experience this resident has had shows the risks some unscrupulous sellers are willing to take to make a little extra profit.

“If you have any doubts that any products sold in the borough may be contaminated, please contact the council’s trading standards team.

“If you are travelling abroad this festive season and plan to bring back spices, we strongly advise you to buy only from reputable sources to reduce the risk of contamination.”

Find out more about on lead safety on the government’s website.