Class Action Alleges Morton & Bassett Spices Contain Unsafe Levels of Heavy Metals

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Certain Morton & Bassett spices contain unsafe levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and lead, a proposed class action in California alleges. 

The 27-page case claims Morton & Bassett-brand basil, ground ginger, ground thyme and ground turmeric contain undisclosed heavy metals at levels “above what is considered safe for children and adults.” The suit contends that the spices’ labeling is deceptive and misleading given it does not include any warning of the potential presence of heavy metals. 

Like a case filed earlier this week against McCormick & Company over similar allegations, the complaint stems from a November 2021 Consumer Reports piece in which the publication reported that almost a third of 126 herb and spice products from a variety of manufacturers contained concerning levels of heavy metals. 

According to the suit, the exposure of young children to heavy metals can increase the risk of long-term neurological issues. Moreover, lead and arsenic are known to cause an array of adverse pregnancy outcomes, the lawsuit says. 

“Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults,” the case states. “A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child.” 

The plaintiff, an Evanston, Illinois resident, says that consumers would not have bought the Morton & Bassett spices at issue had they known the products potentially contained heavy metals as an ingredient.

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons in the United States who bought and consumed any of the Morton & Bassett spices listed on this page from the beginning of any applicable statute of limitations period through the date a class is certified.

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