UK public health chiefs issue urgent warning after lead poisoning case is linked to imported coriander

UK public health chiefs have urged holidaymakers to take extra caution when buying spices abroad after one Briton fell ill with lead poisoning after consuming flavourings brought home from India.

An unknown resident of Northolt in London fell ill and was found to have high levels of lead in their blood.

An investigation by Ealing Council and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) looked into the potential sources of his exposure. 

They found dangerous levels of lead in spices which the resident had brought back from a holiday to Southeast Asia. 

Tests revealed a sample of coriander contained 3,400mg of lead per kilogram, which is far above the UK legal limit of 0.9mg per kg.

This means that consuming just 2g of the contaminated coriander would exceed safe levels.

The practice of adding toxic heavy metal to spices to enhance colour and increase weight is most common in imported ones, particularly with red or brown colouring.

It is believed that the contaminated coriander was possibly purchased from a street market in Southeast Asia.

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Cabinet Member for Decent Living Incomes, told The Chiswick Herald: ‘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.’

In the UK, regulations strictly control the levels of lead allowed in water air and food, but imported goods can pose risks.

Traditional medicines and tonics, kohl eye make-up which is a traditional cosmetic worn in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, opium, lead pipes and fishing nets can also be potential sources of lead exposure. 

There is no safe exposure level of lead which is typically through people inhaling or eating things contaminated with it.

When lead enters the body, it is distributed to organs, including the brain, kidneys, liver and bones. 

In severe cases, high levels of lead can damage the brain and central nervous system, causing convulsions, coma and even death. 

However, if someone has been exposed to lower levels they may have no obvious symptoms.

But research has shown it can affect a children’s brain development, lowering intelligence, causing attention difficulties and increasing antisocial behaviour.

It is also known to cause low iron levels also known as anaemia, high blood pressure, renal impairment, weakened immune systems, infertility and some cancers.

The World Health Organization says children are most at risk as they can absorb up to five times more than adults from an ingested dose.

Other people at higher risk are pregnant women and their unborn child as it can be passed through the placenta.

Global studies show that lead levels in the blood have decreased since it was removed from petrol in 1999.

But experts say children are still regularly being exposed to the metal through paint and pipes.

Latest government figures released in December last year showed lead poisoning in children is on the rise, with more than 200 cases recorded in England in 2023.

Worryingly, experts believe this is just a fraction of the numbers affected, and health officials are now considering testing infants.

Previously Jane Entwistle, from Northumbria University, and head of the UK’s leading research team on lead poisoning, warned of the true potential scale of the problem.

‘People mistakenly think this is an issue of the past, it is not,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘The best estimate is that around 200,000 children in the UK actually have elevated lead levels in their blood. 

‘Even if children are not showing symptoms, exposure can have an impact on their development and even cause learning difficulties.’