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A new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Public Health Alert published July 25, 2024, warns consumers not to use or retailers not to sell an additional brand of ground cinnamon products.
Why?
“Presence of elevated levels of lead.”
What is the product? Why is this an FDA Advisory and not a recall? Is it related to the previous ground cinnamon recall?
Let’s dive in!
An additional ground cinnamon product has been identified with elevated levels of lead and poses a public health risk.
El Servidor Corp Canela Molida (ground cinnamon) recently underwent routine testing performed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Product testing revealed elevated levels of lead. Additional FDA analysis confirmed this finding.
El Servidor Corp
Canela Molida (Ground Cinnamon)
Sold at: Mannan Supermarket, Inc.
Laboratory results indicated a lead concentration of 20 parts pe million. A level deemed unsafe, according to the FDA.
While there is no current recall for this product, “the FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy this ground cinnamon product.”
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not buy this ground cinnamon product
Consumers should check their homes for this tainted product. They should stop using and dispose of the ground cinnamon products included in this advisory. Consumers should not “eat, sell, or serve the ground cinnamon product” and should discard it.
The FDA indicates, “if there’s suspicion that someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead, talk to your healthcare provider. Most people have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure.”
You may be wondering why this information comes as an FDA Public Health Advisory and not a recall.
According to the Public Health Alert, “the FDA has recommended that the distributor voluntarily recall this product.” However, the firm has yet to do so.
The FDA does have weight to enact a mandatory recall through a legal process. However, most companies issue a voluntary recall when situations like this arise.
In this case, it isn’t clear whether El Servidor has not responded to the notification or is unwilling to issue the recall.
In the interim, the FDA uses the FDA Public Health Advisory to notify consumers of their findings.
You may remember recent cinnamon product recalls in the news and here on MakeFoodSafe.com and on the FDA website for lead in cinnamon.
It appears that the FDA is placing this product alongside those other products.
Check all new or previously purchased ground cinnamon products on the recall list.
Based on the FDA’s assessment, “consuming this product is likely to contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood, especially in babies and young children.”
Lead consumption is dangerous for people of all ages. However, lead toxicity is particularly serious in the developing bodies of children.
Unfortunately, these health effects can be long-term and pose no obvious immediate symptoms. In some cases, the only way a family discovers lead exposure is during routine childhood screenings.
If symptoms do occur, they may appear as:
Long-term exposure to elevated lead concentrations may result in:
Children tend to experience more severe effects to lead exposure because their smaller body sizes and rapid metabolism and growth incorporates more lead into their developing bodies.
High levels of exposure to lead in early childhood, infancy, or even in utero can lead to neurological effects. Studies have shown learning disabilities, behavior problems, and reduced IQ in cases of early childhood lead exposure.
In addition to generating Public Health Advisories, the FDA is taking additional steps to help prevent additional ground cinnamon lead exposure.
Following the WanaBana Cinnamon Apple Puree and Applesauce products recall in the fall of 2023, the FDA requested states to help in identification efforts.
Last year the FDA requested that states prioritize testing ground cinnamon products and other spices for elevated lead and chromium levels. This includes not only ground cinnamon products, but also products that contain cinnamon as an ingredient. In response, several states provided the FDA with data collected from sampling ground cinnamon and spice products.
According to the agency, a continued review of these findings is taking place. As data becomes available, the FDA is requesting additional product recalls and notifying the public in Public Health Advisory notices.
Given the persistent issue of elevated lead levels in ground cinnamon, should you forgo cinnamon for the foreseeable future?
If you are pregnant or providing these products directly or as an ingredient to small children, it is a good idea to scrutinize your ground cinnamon supply. Vigilantly check your products against up-to-date recall lists and opt for domestically produced cinnamon.
If you or a family member may have been exposed to lead in ground cinnamon, you may have questions.
First, seek medical attention immediately. Explain to your healthcare provider your potential lead exposure status. Appropriate diagnostic tests may be preformed to determine the concentration of lead in your blood and assess the potential risks associated with that result.
Retain but segregate packaging. If you believe the cinnamon, spice, or other product you have consumed may be impacted by this elevated lead in ground cinnamon exposure event, retaining the packaging can help investigators narrow or broaden the scope of the investigation. Carefully segregate the package, perhaps in a marked Ziploc bag, so that no one else in the household can use the product.
Get advice from a foodborne lead exposure lawyer.
If you have been exposed to elevated lead levels in ground cinnamon, you likely have questions. A foodborne lead exposure lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and get you the justice you deserve.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has helped many families with cases just like yours. Don’t wait!
Call (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form for a free consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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