The FDA has sounded an alarm over specific ground cinnamon products, urging consumers to discard them due to dangerous lead levels. Brands affected include Super Brand, Asli, El Chilar, and Marcum. The FDA is actively investigating the situation.
FDA Issues Ground Cinnamon Warning
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a critical alert regarding ground cinnamon contaminated with elevated lead levels. Products from brands such as Super Brand, Asli, El Chilar, and Marcum have been identified as unsafe due to this contamination. Elevated lead concentrations pose severe health risks, especially to young children due to the metal’s capacity to accumulate in the body over time.
In response to these findings, the FDA has urged consumers to dispose of any such products found in their homes immediately. Lead concentrations in some of these products have been alarmingly high, reaching up to 7.68 ppm, significantly above the safety threshold. Additionally, the FDA’s efforts are part of a larger initiative, Closer to Zero, aimed at minimizing exposure to toxic elements in the diet of especially vulnerable groups.
***RECALL WARNING***
Ground Cinnamon
Various Brands EffectedDue to Elevated Levels of Lead
This is an expansion of a previous recall from August 2024See the full recall & a comprehensive list of effected products here: https://t.co/4AN0FRI1SH pic.twitter.com/cFhDQB2kXj
— Seneca County Health Department (@SenecaCountyDOH) November 6, 2024
Federal and State Agencies Take Action
To address this issue conclusively, the FDA, in collaboration with various state agencies, is conducting rigorous testing to ensure no further contaminated products infiltrate the market. There is a concerted effort to screen cinnamon at both retail and import stages to prevent unsafe supplies from reaching American consumers.
“The FDA continues to work with states to test cinnamon sold directly to consumers at retail and to test cinnamon at import. The FDA will continue our activities at import to prevent unsafe cinnamon from reaching consumers in the U.S., including adding firms and products to import alert where appropriate, according to the expanded alert posted on Nov. 1.”
Alongside these federal measures, distributors of the affected cinnamon brands are being urged to initiate voluntary recalls. The FDA has emphasized the importance of testing products to guarantee consumer safety. This alert is the third issued this year concerning ground cinnamon, underscoring the importance of vigilance in food safety standards.
The FDA said in a new alert that it has identified an additional cinnamon product sold in the U.S. that has been contaminated with lead. https://t.co/oyPugToPY8
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 26, 2024
Consumer Guidance and Safety Measures
The FDA’s advisory goes beyond just recalling these products—it highlights a broader necessity for manufacturers and importers to implement robust contamination controls. Adept testing and federal collaboration are crucial in mitigating risks associated with chemical hazards in food products, as reiterated in previous guidance from the agency.
Affected consumers should be diligent in checking their pantry for these long-shelf-life products. Recalls of cinnamon brands have been frequent, indicating ongoing challenges in ensuring product safety. Consumers must heed the FDA’s warning to safeguard their health, particularly when it concerns their children, who are most at risk from lead exposure.
