These ground cinnamon products are tainted with lead, FDA warns
KANSAS (KSNT) – U.S. health officials are warning consumers about ground cinnamon sold by discount retailers that is contaminated with high levels of lead.
On Wednesday, the Food & Drug Administration published its alert, advising consumers to throw away the contaminated cinnamon, which was sold at Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Patel Brothers, Save A Lot, SuperMercados and La Superior retailers in the U.S.
The alert comes after the FDA recalled applesauce pouches that were tied to more than 500 potential cases of lead poisoning in U.S. children. Authorities believe cinnamon in those pouches was to blame.
22 sick due to possible lead poisoning from recalled applesauce
That October recall prompted FDA officials to launch what they called a “targeted survey” of cinnamon products sold in discount stores.
The ground cinnamon products in Wednesday’s notice had lead levels of 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million, far lower than the puree pouches, which contained 2,270 parts per million to 5,110 parts per million of lead.
The FDA is advising retailers and consumers to stop using and dispose of the products. The FDA said consumers should check their homes because the products have long shelf lives.
You can see photos of the impacted cinnamon products below, as well as a list of products the FDA is advising consumers not to purchase or consume.
Photo courtesy of the FDA. Photo courtesy of the FDA. Photo courtesy of the FDA. Photo courtesy of the FDA. Photo courtesy of the FDA. Photo courtesy of the FDA.
The FDA said it will be working with manufacturers and distributors to remove the products from the market and continue to investigate the lead contaminations.
Distributor | Retailer | Brand | Lots/Codes | Lead |
La Fiesta Food Products | La Superior | La Fiesta | 25033 | 2.73 |
Marcum, Moran Foods, LLC | Save A Lot | Marcum | Best By: | 3.20 |
MTCI | SF Supermarket | MK | No codes | 2.99 |
Raja Foods LLC | Patel Brothers | Swad | KX21223 | 2.12 |
Greenbriar International, Inc. | Dollar Tree | Supreme | Best By: | 3.37 |
El Chilar | La Joya Morelense | El Chilar | F275EX1026 (Maryland) | 3.4 |
No illnesses or other health effects have been reported in connection with the new ground cinnamon alert, the FDA said.
There is no safe level of lead exposure for humans. Long-term exposure of lead can cause problems, especially in growing children, including learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties and lower IQ.
Parents of children who consumed these products are encouraged to reach out to their healthcare provider regarding a blood test as lead poisoning can only be identified through testing, according to the FDA. Some symptoms to be on the lookout for include:
Headache
Abdominal pain/Colic
Vomiting
Anemia
Those who have been exposed to lead over a longer period of time may also have the following symptoms:
Irritability
Lethargy
Fatigue
Muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning
Occasional abdominal discomfort
Constipation
Difficulty concentrating/muscular exhaustibility
Headache
Tremor
Weight loss
The FDA monitors foods for lead levels, but the U.S. government doesn’t broadly limit lead in food products. The agency sent a letter to all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors and facility operators in the U.S. reminding them they’re required to prevent contamination from chemical hazards in food, including spices.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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