Lead in Balsamic and Red Vinegar

April 19, 2010 · Posted in Health, Personal

I just went to the store today. As I was browsing, I saw a warning where the balsamic vinegar is located. The warning sign says, “This product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.” It was in fine print. I was shocked upon reading the warning sign. The warning is under Proposition 65 here in California. All balsamic and red wine vinegars appear to have trace of amount of lead. It is believed that “Most balsamic and red wine vinegars have lead levels equal to or less than 34 parts per million. An average person would need to consume 1 to 2 cups of balsamic or red wine vinegar per day to reach the Proposition 65 lead level minimum threshold, which includes a 1000-fold safety margin.” Aged vinegars, favored by gourmets and cost about $100 a bottle, contain more lead than the quicker brewed, less expensive kinds. Lead can harm people’s neurological systems, mainly children’s developing brains. Lead also is a carcinogen, and in adults, it is linked to cardiovascular, kidney and immune system effects. Actually, lead is not only found in vinegar as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that North Americans consume 50 micrograms of lead each day through food, beverages and dust. A microgram is a millionth of a gram. Most children, the biggest risk of lead exposure comes from old, deteriorating house paint and tap water, not only from vinegar. But it is just that vinegars are acidic and make the metal fully soluble so it’s more easily absorbed into the bloodstream. There are some balsamic and red vinegar that do not violate California’s proposition 65 limits for lead. Click here for details.