Some aged balsamics -- contain a big dose of lead

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http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/lead-in-vinegar

Special Report: Some vinegars -- often expensive, aged balsamics -- contain a

big dose of lead

In a tradition dating back to medieval times, growers in Modena, Italy, are deep

into the grape harvest, the first step in making

their famed balsamic vinegar. Cooking the grapes releases rich juice that is

then stored in vintage barrels. At least a dozen years

of fermentation and evaporation reduces the wine to a sweet, fragrant elixir.

Thousands of miles away, in California, signs in

grocery stores warn shoppers about exposure to a dangerous metal in many

balsamic and red wine vinegars. Although the amount of lead

in vinegar is small, experts say regularly consuming it may pose a risk,

particularly to children. Eating one tablespoon a day of

some vinegars can raise a young child's lead level by more than 30 percent. For

this report, Environmental Health News had an expert

calculate children's doses and also hired an independent lab to test two

bottles. Consumers want to know if vinegars are safe, but

there are no easy answers.

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