Powdered cinnamon sold at discount retailers in the United States is contaminated with high levels of lead and should be thrown away. Federal health officials made the announcement Wednesday..
The Food and Drug Administration said cinnamon sold at stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains levels of lead that can be dangerous to people, especially children, if exposed to the spice for long periods of time. The agency called on suppliers to carry out a voluntary recall.
Cinnamon products included in the agency’s safety alert include La Superior and the La Fiesta brand sold by SuperMercados. Marcum brand available at Save A Lot store. MK brand sold by SF Supermarket. Swad brand sold by Patel Brothers. El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Morelense. Supreme Tradition brand sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.
“Removing the powdered cinnamon products included in this warning from the market will help prevent those products from adding large amounts of lead to children’s diets,” the warning states.
The agency says consumers should not buy the product and should throw away any containers in their homes.
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores have removed cinnamon from their shelves, a company spokesperson said. Customers can return the item to a nearby store for a refund.
Following a recall in October 2023 of cinnamon applesauce pouches contaminated with lead that sickened nearly 500 U.S. children, FDA officials said they were selling them at discount stores. It has begun what it calls a “targeted survey” of cinnamon products.
Lead levels in the crushed cinnamon products in Wednesday’s notice ranged from 2.03 to 3.4 ppm, much lower than the pureed pouches, which had lead levels ranging from 2,270 ppm to 5,110 ppm.
The FDA said there have been no reported illnesses or other health effects associated with the new ground cinnamon alert.
There is no safe level of lead exposure for humans. Long-term exposure to lead can cause problems such as learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and reduced IQ, especially in growing children.
Although the FDA monitors lead levels in foods, the government does not broadly limit lead in foods. The agency sent letter We remind all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors, and facility operators in the United States of the need to prevent contamination of spice-containing foods with chemical hazards.
