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 A new JRC study reveals cases of fraud and non-compliance with the food safety legislation in cinnamon sold at EU retailers. 

As part of the European Commission efforts to fight fraud in the herbs and spices sector, JRC scientists used four in-house developed innovative screening methods to detect and identify possible fraudulent practices. 

They went beyond identifying the substitution of Ceylon cinnamon the most valuable variety, with cassia, a cheaper and less aromatic alternative, and identified other likely types of substitution, investigated compliance with existing European legislation and international standards. The analysis involved  104 cinnamon samples – 44 of which were labelled as Ceylon cinnamon – purchased at retailers in 10 EU countries, and in the UK, Serbia and Sri Lanka.

Over 66 % of the samples analysed failed to meet international quality standards, were non-compliant with EU food safety legislation, suspected of fraud, and/or potentially exceeded the legal coumarin limits. Coumarin is a natural aromatic compound found in cassia and other plants, potentially toxic for liver.

The results of the investigation can help the scientific community and policy makers to set threshold values for the different cinnamon components, and to define when to consider a sample as suspicious. This will allow to undertake a more detailed surveillance and help competent authorities take action.

In 2023, cinnamon was the fifth most imported spice in the EU following ginger, paprika, pepper and turmeric; with cinnamon demand expected to grow over the next years, cinnamon is an attractive target for fraudsters.

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This paper (open access) reports the outcome of a study in which 104 cinnamon samples purchased at retailers in EU countries, have been investigated. The study showed that a high share of samples, 66.3%, either did not fulfil quality criteria set by international standards, were not compliant with European food safety legislation, were suspicious of fraud, or could be toxic for children due to a high content of coumarin. 

Substitution of Ceylon by Cassia cinnamon, so far the most recognised type of fraud, was not the problem most frequently detected in this study.  Many samples were classified as either strongly suspicious or suspicious, based upon being statistical outliers, but further investigation would be needed to confirm if adulterated. 

The authors report that the use of multiple analytical techniques, namely Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence, Head Space-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, q-PCR, and Termogravimetric Analyses, was needed to cover the full range of irregularities detected in the study. 

Photo by Angelo Pantazis on Unsplash