In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a nationwide recall of several brands of ground cinnamon due to concerns over lead contamination. Recently, the FDA has expanded this recall to include additional brands found to have elevated lead levels, affecting products sold at retailers such as Dollar Tree, Save A Lot, and Patel Brothers.
The FDA initiated testing for lead in ground cinnamon following over 460 reported cases of lead poisoning in children linked to the consumption of applesauce. Investigations revealed that the source of the contamination was the cinnamon used in the apple purée. In response to these findings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised consumers who had ingested the affected products to contact their healthcare providers promptly. The implicated packets have since been recalled.
While the FDA has identified new cinnamon products with elevated lead levels, it has noted that these levels are “significantly lower than lead levels in the cinnamon found in the recalled applesauce pouches that were removed from the market last fall.” Consumers are encouraged to stay informed and check for updates on product safety.
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