FDA warns several brands of cinnamon powder may be contaminated with lead

Federal health officials said powdered cinnamon products sold in discount stores are contaminated with high levels of lead and should be thrown away.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said cinnamon sold in stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be dangerous to people, especially children, through prolonged exposure to the spice. Is. The agency asked suppliers to voluntarily remove their products from the market.

The cinnamon products covered by the safety warning are: La Fiesta brand sold in La Superior and supermercados; On sale at Marcum brand Save A Lot stores; MK brand sold in SF supermarkets; Swad brand sold at Patel Brothers; El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Moralense; And the Supreme Tradition brand is sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.

“Removing the cinnamon powder products included in this alert from the market will prevent them from contributing to high amounts of lead in children’s diets,” the alert said.

The agency said consumers should not purchase these products and should dispose of them if they have them at home.

Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores have removed cinnamon from their shelves, a company spokesperson said. Consumers can return the products to their nearest store for a refund.

Following the October 2023 recall of cinnamon applesauce products containing high levels of lead, FDA officials conducted what they described as a “targeted survey” of cinnamon products sold in discount stores, which sickened nearly 500 children in the United States. Have become.

The ground cinnamon products included in Wednesday’s advisory had lead levels between 2.04 and 3.4 parts per million, much lower than the puree packages, which contained between 2,270 and 5,110 parts per million of lead.

So far, no illnesses or health effects related to the new cinnamon powder alert have been reported, the agency said.

There is no safe level of lead exposure in humans. Long-term exposure to this metal can cause problems, especially in children of developmental age, including learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and low IQ levels.

The FDA checks lead levels in foods, but the federal government largely does not limit the presence of lead in food products. The agency sent a letter to all growers, processors, distributors, and facility operators in the United States reminding them that they need to prevent contamination of food by hazardous chemicals, including spices.