March 7, 2024 – Elevated levels of lead have been present in six brands of ground cinnamon sold by discount retailers within the United States, the FDA said in a security alert on Wednesday.
Consumers should throw away these products and never buy them, and retailers should stop selling them. said the FDA.
The FDA safety alert named these products: the La Fiesta brand, sold by La Superior and SuperMercados; Marcum brand sold by Save A Lot stores; MK brand sold by SF Supermarket; Swad brand sold by Patel Brothers; El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Morelense; and the Supreme Tradition brand, sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.
No illnesses have been reported from the bottom cinnamon, but months or years of exposure to high levels of lead could cause hostile health effects, especially in children. There are not any secure limits for lead exposure for humans.
“These products have a long shelf life. Consumers should inspect their homes and discard these products,” the FDA said.
The federal agency became aware of the bottom cinnamon problem after recalling cinnamon-apple puree and applesauce products in October 2023 that had high levels of lead linked to the cinnamon in those products.
The ground cinnamon products listed in Wednesday's safety notice have lead levels of two.03 to three.4 parts per million, the FDA said. That's much lower than cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products, which had lead levels of two,270 to five,110 parts per million.
These puree and applesauce products were sold in children's squeeze pouches. As of February 23, the CDC has received reports of 111 confirmed cases of lead and chromium poisoning, 320 probable cases and 37 suspected cases related to the puree and applesauce products.