U.S. health officials are warning that some types of ground cinnamon sold at certain discount and specialty food stores are contaminated with high levels of lead and should be discarded.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued its third warning this year, adding at least 10 different varieties of packaged ground cinnamon sold in multiple states at popular stores including Dollar Tree, Patel Brothers and Eurogrocery.
The FDA has advised the companies to recall their products. In the meantime, consumers should throw away and avoid purchasing these ground cinnamon products. No illnesses have been reported associated with these products, according to the FDA.
Here’s what you need to know:
Which brands of cinnamon are affected?
The FDA issued its latest warning on Tuesday, naming cinnamon brands El Chilar, Marcum, SWAD, Supreme Tradition, Compania Indillor Orientale, ALB Flavor, Shahzada, Spice Class and La Frontera.
On July 25, the agency issued a warning about El Servidor brand cinnamon, following a warning issued on March 6.
How much lead was in the cinnamon?
Testing by the state program and FDA checks found that most of the Spices contained between just over 2 parts per million and about 7 parts per million of lead, the FDA said. The El Cervidor brand had a lead level of 20 parts per million.
That’s much lower than the 2,000 to 5,000 parts per million found in the powdered cinnamon in bags of Wanabana and other brands of cinnamon-apple puree that have sickened more than 500 U.S. children since last year.
Currently, the FDA does not set limits for heavy metals in spices. However, it does set a limit of 1 ppm for lead in candy that may be eaten by small children. The American Spice Trade Association, an industry group, has called for a limit of 2 ppm or less for lead in bark spices such as cinnamon.
How does lead get into cinnamon?
Karen Everstyn, technical director at FoodChainID, a company that tracks food supply chains, said many foods, including spices, contain lead from natural sources such as soil and water.
Spices can also accumulate lead from other sources in the environment, such as pollutants. Some of the lead in spices can come from manufacturing, storage, and transportation.
In some cases, spices are mixed with substances such as lead to add color or weight, thus increasing the value of the product.
How does lead in spices affect your health?
Health officials say lead is unsafe in any amount and should be avoided. Spices contain such small amounts that a single exposure would pose little harm, but damage can occur after weeks or months of exposure.
How can I avoid lead in spices?
It may be difficult, if not impossible, to know whether spices on grocery store shelves are contaminated with lead or other toxins, Everstyn said.
Consumers should buy spices from companies that publicly promise to monitor where their ingredients are sourced, and who have a vested interest in protecting their brands, she said.
That can be hard, especially when food prices, including spices, remain high, but it might be worth it this time, she added.
