HEALTH
FDA Issues New Warning about 6 More Lead-Tainted Cinnamon Brands
FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday issued a new warning about more ground cinnamon products that contain high levels of lead.
The FDA identified six brands of ground cinnamon products that were found to contain high levels of lead: La Fiesta, sold at La Superior SuperMercados; Marcum, sold at Save A Lot; MK, sold at SF Supermarket; Swad, sold at Patel Brothers; Supreme Tradition, sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar; and Eli Chilar, sold at La Joya Morelense.
The FDA said it had notified all but one manufacturer to recommend they voluntarily recall the products. The agency said it could not reach anyone at California-based MTCI, which distributes the MK brand cinnamon sold at SF Supermarket.
Consumers are advised to immediately stop using and discard the listed products, which have long shelf lives and may be tucked away in pantries or cabinets.
The warning follows the recall of WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches, which were linked to widespread cases of lead poisoning in children.
As of Feb. 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 468 confirmed and potential cases of lead poisoning across 44 states linked to the recalled cinnamon apple products.
Following a months-long investigation into the source of the lead contamination, authorities in Ecuador identified Carlos Aguilera, a cinnamon grinder, as the likely source of lead contamination, and said he is no longer in operation.
Aguilera processed the ground cinnamon supplied by Ecuadorian distributor Negasmart to Austrofoods, which was later used in the recalled WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis brand applesauce products sold in the U.S. According to Ecuadorian officials, the unprocessed cinnamon sticks sourced from Sri Lanka and were found to have no lead contamination.
Lead exposure may have no apparent acute symptoms, according to the CDC, but even low levels of lead are associated with learning and behavior problems, hearing and speech problems, and slowed growth and development. High levels of lead may lead to acute lead poisoning symptoms including abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, anemia, weakness and fatigue, or severe neurological symptoms such as seizures, encephalopathy, and coma.
Although the newly recalled products are not marketed to children, the FDA warned the products are still unsafe to consume.
TMX contributed to this article.
