FDA Issues Public Health Alert About Lead Contamination in Cinnamon

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a fresh warning on Thursday that it identified a new cinnamon product sold in the United States that has lead contamination.

The ground cinnamon has the El Servidor brand name and is distributed by a company of the same name based in Elmhurst, New York. The product was sold through Mannan Supermarket Inc., based in New York City, according to the FDA notice.

It’s not clear if the El Servidor cinnamon product was sold at other locations. The notice only listed Mannan Supermarket.

“Through product testing conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and confirmed by the FDA, the FDA has determined that the ground cinnamon product listed below contains elevated levels of lead and that exposure to this product may be unsafe,” the agency said.

The FDA recommended that consumers throw away and not buy this ground cinnamon product. The notice also advised that the retailer issue a recall of the cinnamon product.

Lead Warnings

The latest FDA ground cinnamon alert joins an increasing number of cinnamon products that have been flagged by the FDA as containing elevated levels of lead.

In March, the FDA warned about lead in cinnamon that was sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, among other stores, also advising consumers not to use them.

“These products have a long shelf life. Consumers should check their homes and discard these products,” it said at the time.

The agency’s scrutiny of lead in cinnamon products increased after mass recalls of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce pouches marketed for children after elevated lead levels were found in the products in October 2023.

The pouches include those sold under the WanaBana brand at Dollar Tree stores and online and under the Schnucks and Weis brands in stores. Because they have a long shelf life, they may still be in consumers’ homes, officials said at the time. Consumers should not eat or serve the pouches and should discard them, they also said.

Children in 44 states had probable or confirmed cases of elevated blood lead levels after eating the applesauce pouches marketed for toddlers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak was declared over in April 2024.

In June, the FDA sent a warning letter to Dollar Tree, which operates the Family Dollar chain, about WanaBana pouches still being sold on shelves for months after the recall was announced.

“Subsequent recall audit checks of your Dollar Tree and Family Dollar–Dollar Tree combination stores revealed that you continued to offer the recalled WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches on store shelves well after the recall was initiated, despite FDA’s numerous attempts to bring this serious issue to your attention,” the agency said in the letter published on June 11.

Dollar Tree officials told news outlets at the time that the company was operating under new management and would take steps to improve its rules around “quickly and effectively executing product recalls.” The Epoch Times previously contacted Dollar Tree for further comment but received no response.

In January 2023, the FDA issued a statement announcing its plans to reduce lead content in foods to under 10 parts per billion in fruits, vegetables, yogurts, custards, and meats. It also is seeking to limit lead in root vegetables and dry infant cereals to 20 parts per billion, according to the announcement.

Lead Poisoning Symptoms

Lead poisoning can have significant, lifelong impacts, especially for infants and younger children because they can absorb significantly more lead than adults, according to health authorities.

The CDC says on its website that high levels of lead can cause neurological issues such as a lower IQ, difficulty learning, and more trouble paying attention. Young children can also suffer brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth, and hearing or speech problems due to lead exposure, the agency warns.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lead poisoning can also occur because of a long-term buildup of the heavy metal inside the body after repeated exposure. In the short term, high levels of lead exposure can be deadly, it says.

In adults, lead poisoning symptoms include joint and muscle pain, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, mood disorders, miscarriage or stillbirth, and difficulties with concentration or memory, the clinic adds.