Ground cinnamon sold at discount stores tainted with lead, FDA warns
The US Food and Drug Administration said cinnamon sold by stores including Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be unsafe for people, particularly children, with prolonged exposure to the spice.
Lead Contamination in Ground Cinnamon Sold by US Discount Retailers
Federal health officials have announced that ground cinnamon sold by US discount retailers is contaminated with high levels of lead, urging consumers to discard the products. The US Food and Drug Administration revealed that cinnamon sold by stores such as Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be unsafe, particularly for children with prolonged exposure to the spice. The agency has called on suppliers to voluntarily recall the affected products.
Affected Brands and Safety Measures
The safety alert issued by the FDA includes several cinnamon products, such as La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, Swad, El Chilar, and Supreme Tradition brands. The agency emphasized that removing these ground cinnamon products from the market is crucial to prevent elevated lead exposure in children's diets. Consumers are advised not to purchase these products and to dispose of any containers they have at home.
Retail Response and FDA Actions
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores have promptly removed the contaminated cinnamon from their shelves, allowing customers to return the products for a refund. Following a targeted survey of cinnamon products sold in discount stores after a previous recall, the FDA found lead levels ranging from 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million in the Wednesday notice, significantly lower than the levels found in the recalled puree pouches. The FDA has not received reports of illnesses or other health effects associated with the new ground cinnamon alert.
Health Risks and FDA's Regulatory Efforts
The FDA emphasized that there is no safe level of lead exposure for humans, especially in growing children, as it can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and lower IQ. While the FDA monitors food for lead levels, the US government does not broadly limit lead in food products. The agency has reminded all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors, and facility operators in the US of their obligation to prevent contamination from chemical hazards in food, including spices.
Federal health officials have announced that ground cinnamon sold by US discount retailers is contaminated with high levels of lead, urging consumers to discard the products. The US Food and Drug Administration revealed that cinnamon sold by stores such as Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be unsafe, particularly for children with prolonged exposure to the spice. The agency has called on suppliers to voluntarily recall the affected products.
Affected Brands and Safety Measures
The safety alert issued by the FDA includes several cinnamon products, such as La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, Swad, El Chilar, and Supreme Tradition brands. The agency emphasized that removing these ground cinnamon products from the market is crucial to prevent elevated lead exposure in children's diets. Consumers are advised not to purchase these products and to dispose of any containers they have at home.
Retail Response and FDA Actions
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores have promptly removed the contaminated cinnamon from their shelves, allowing customers to return the products for a refund. Following a targeted survey of cinnamon products sold in discount stores after a previous recall, the FDA found lead levels ranging from 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million in the Wednesday notice, significantly lower than the levels found in the recalled puree pouches. The FDA has not received reports of illnesses or other health effects associated with the new ground cinnamon alert.
Health Risks and FDA's Regulatory Efforts
The FDA emphasized that there is no safe level of lead exposure for humans, especially in growing children, as it can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and lower IQ. While the FDA monitors food for lead levels, the US government does not broadly limit lead in food products. The agency has reminded all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors, and facility operators in the US of their obligation to prevent contamination from chemical hazards in food, including spices.