100% “pure” maple syrup might be the last place you would expect to find lead, the toxic heavy metal. Yet in 2012, Ecological Rights Foundation found lead in ALL except 1 of 20 popular syrups, most well above levels set by the State of California to protect consumers from lead’s harmful developmental and reproductive effects. 

It turns out the source of the lead was equipment used to process and store the syrups, such as galvanized drums and leaded-brass valves and faucets. ERF and fellow consumer advocacy group Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation teamed up to tackle the problem. To avoid providing lead warnings on its syrups, the industry has agreed to phase out the offending equipment, which will eliminate virtually all lead from their products. The binding agreement was approved on 1 October, 2014, by California Superior Court Judge W. Bruce Watson. 

For now, we recommend these syrups with low lead content:

• Whole Foods Market 365 Organic 100% Pure Grade A Maple Syrup 
  
  
• Archer Farms 100% Pure Maple Syrup Grade A Dark Amber 
  
  
• Archer Farms 100% Pure Maple Syrup Grade A Medium Amber
  
  
• Butternut Mountain Farm Vermont Maple Syrup Grade A Dark Amber
  
  
• Topco Full Circle Organic 100% Pure Maple Syrup Grade A Dark Amber
  
  
• Citadelle - Shady Maple Farms Thick n Rich Syrup 
  
  

As brands provide proof of reformulation and reduced lead content, we will add them to this list.