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Expanded Flaxseed Testing by ConsumerLab Reveals More Cadmium Contamination – Several Quality Products Also Identified
White Plains, New York, March 28, 2023 — Due to concerning levels of cadmium ConsumerLab discovered in its tests of flaxseed products in January 2023, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested seven additional whole and ground flaxseed products.
Four of the seven newly-tested products exceeded ConsumerLab’s limits for cadmium: Two that exceeded the California Prop 65 warning level of 4.1 mcg per daily serving, containing 8 mcg and 11.5 mcg of cadmium, respectively, and two that exceeded CL’s limit for children of 3 mcg per daily serving In addition, two of these products had incorrect nutritional facts on their labels.
Three other products, which did not exceed contamination limits for cadmium and passed all of ConsumerLab’s other tests of quality, were Approved, including one that is now CL’s Top Pick for whole flaxseed.
There was no clear association between cadmium levels and the cost of products, type or form of flaxseed, or whether or not they were organic, as was the case with CL’s earlier testing.
Cadmium, which plants can absorb from the soil in which they are grown, is a probable carcinogen. It can also be toxic to the kidneys, can soften the bones and cause bone pain, and may affect fetal development. Cadmium accumulates in the body due to its long biological half-life in humans of 10 to 35 years. ConsumerLab has learned that many companies do not test their flaxseed products or raw material for cadmium or other heavy metals, such as lead, despite the fact that cadmium contamination of flaxseed is a known issue.
ConsumerLab’s findings and product ratings are available online now in its expanded Whole, Ground, and Milled Flaxseed Review, which includes 16 products selected for testing by ConsumerLab: 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Flaxseed, 365 Whole Foods Market Whole Flaxseed, Arrowhead Mills Organic Flax Seeds, Barlean’s Forti-Flax Premium Ground Flaxseed, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Golden Flaxseed, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal, Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seeds, Flackers Flax Seed Crackers – Sea Salt, Great Value [Walmart] Ground Flax Seed, NutraSprout Sprout Revolution Sprouted Ground Flax, Premium Gold Whole Flaxseed, Simply Nature Whole Flax Seeds, Spectrum Essentials Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed, Terrasoul Superfoods Brown Flax Seeds, Terrasoul Superfoods Golden Flax Seeds Raw and Sproutable, and Trader Joe’s Organic Flaxseed Meal.
A short video about the recent findings is available on YouTube, along with a video about the original results.
ConsumerLab has also tested, in separate Reviews, flaxseed oils and flax milk (along with other plant-based milks) that contains flaxseed oil, but cadmium contamination is unlikely in these products because it mainly attaches to other parts of flaxseed (particularly cell walls and proteins) than the oil. ConsumerLab testing has also found cadmium contamination in dark chocolates and cocoas.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
Four of the seven newly-tested products exceeded ConsumerLab’s limits for cadmium: Two that exceeded the California Prop 65 warning level of 4.1 mcg per daily serving, containing 8 mcg and 11.5 mcg of cadmium, respectively, and two that exceeded CL’s limit for children of 3 mcg per daily serving In addition, two of these products had incorrect nutritional facts on their labels.
Three other products, which did not exceed contamination limits for cadmium and passed all of ConsumerLab’s other tests of quality, were Approved, including one that is now CL’s Top Pick for whole flaxseed.
There was no clear association between cadmium levels and the cost of products, type or form of flaxseed, or whether or not they were organic, as was the case with CL’s earlier testing.
Cadmium, which plants can absorb from the soil in which they are grown, is a probable carcinogen. It can also be toxic to the kidneys, can soften the bones and cause bone pain, and may affect fetal development. Cadmium accumulates in the body due to its long biological half-life in humans of 10 to 35 years. ConsumerLab has learned that many companies do not test their flaxseed products or raw material for cadmium or other heavy metals, such as lead, despite the fact that cadmium contamination of flaxseed is a known issue.
ConsumerLab’s findings and product ratings are available online now in its expanded Whole, Ground, and Milled Flaxseed Review, which includes 16 products selected for testing by ConsumerLab: 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Ground Flaxseed, 365 Whole Foods Market Whole Flaxseed, Arrowhead Mills Organic Flax Seeds, Barlean’s Forti-Flax Premium Ground Flaxseed, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Golden Flaxseed, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal, Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seeds, Flackers Flax Seed Crackers – Sea Salt, Great Value [Walmart] Ground Flax Seed, NutraSprout Sprout Revolution Sprouted Ground Flax, Premium Gold Whole Flaxseed, Simply Nature Whole Flax Seeds, Spectrum Essentials Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed, Terrasoul Superfoods Brown Flax Seeds, Terrasoul Superfoods Golden Flax Seeds Raw and Sproutable, and Trader Joe’s Organic Flaxseed Meal.
A short video about the recent findings is available on YouTube, along with a video about the original results.
ConsumerLab has also tested, in separate Reviews, flaxseed oils and flax milk (along with other plant-based milks) that contains flaxseed oil, but cadmium contamination is unlikely in these products because it mainly attaches to other parts of flaxseed (particularly cell walls and proteins) than the oil. ConsumerLab testing has also found cadmium contamination in dark chocolates and cocoas.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
New Flaxseed Findings from ConsumerLab.com
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