The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued its third alert of the year regarding ground cinnamon contamination. The alert pertains to several brands of ground cinnamon sold at discount and specialty grocery stores. The contaminated products have been found to contain high levels of lead, posing a potential health risk.

Brands Affected

The latest alert, issued on Tuesday, lists the following brands of ground cinnamon that are contaminated:

El Chilar

Marcum

SWAD

Supreme Tradition

Compania Indillor Orientale

ALB Flavor

Shahzada

Spice Class

La Frontera

Earlier alerts included the El Servidor brand, which was flagged on July 25, following an initial alert on March 6.

Lead Contamination Levels

Testing by state programs, confirmed by the FDA, revealed that lead levels in these cinnamon products range from slightly over 2 parts per million to about 7 parts per million. Notably, the El Servidor brand showed a lead concentration of 20 parts per million. While these levels are significantly lower than the 2,000 to 5,000 parts per million found in cinnamon apple puree that affected over 500 U.S. children last year, any amount of lead is considered harmful.

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The FDA currently has no specific limit for heavy metals in spices but has set a limit of 1 part per million for lead in candy consumed by small children. The American Spice Trade Association recommends a maximum of 2 parts per million of lead in spices like cinnamon.

Sources of Lead in Spices

Lead can enter spices from natural sources such as soil and water. Additionally, spices can accumulate lead from environmental pollution or contamination during manufacturing, storage, or shipping. In some cases, spices might be intentionally adulterated with lead to enhance color or weight.

Health Risks

There is no safe level of lead exposure, and long-term consumption of lead-contaminated spices could potentially lead to health issues. While the risk from a single use might be small due to the small quantities of spices used, prolonged exposure could be harmful.

Consumer Recommendations

To minimize the risk of lead exposure, consumers are advised to:

Discard Affected Products: Follow FDA recommendations to dispose of the contaminated cinnamon products.

Avoid Purchase: Refrain from buying these brands until further notice.

Choose Reliable Brands: Purchase spices from companies that publicly commit to monitoring their supply chains to ensure product safety.

Conclusion

The FDA's alert on ground cinnamon contamination highlights an important health issue, emphasizing the need for vigilance in monitoring food safety. Consumers should stay informed about which products to avoid and choose brands with stringent quality control measures to protect their health.

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