Cinnamon Recalls Follow Reports of Lead Contamination
The Product Recall Lawyers at The Lyon Firm are investigating new reports of lead in cinnamon products sold at numerous locations nationwide. Consumers are urged to check their food supply to ensure they do not have any recalled cinnamon brands in their kitchens. Contact our attorneys to learn more about cinnamon recalls and filing class action product liability lawsuits.
Which Cinnamon Powder Brands Were Found with Lead Contamination?
High levels of lead were allegedly found in at least twelve brands of cinnamon powder and multi-spice powders, according to testing reports that were recently released by Consumer Reports. The brands named in the report include the following:
- Paras
- Mimi’s Products
- ShopRite Bowl & Basket
- Zara Foods
- Rani Brand
- Three Rivers
- Yu Yee Brand
- Spicy King five spice
- EGN
- BaiLiFeng five spice
- Badia five spice
- Deep cinnamon powder
- 365 Whole Foods Market
- Morton & Bassett San Francisco
- Loisa organic cinnamon
- Sadaf cinnamon powder
Consumer Reports tested three samples from each brand so the results did not conclude if similar lead levels would be found in all products sold under that specific brand name.
Why Is There Lead in Cinnamon?
Lead and other heavy metal contaminants may occur in the environment naturally, and elements in the air, water, and soil used to grow crops can test for varying levels depending on location and proximity to past or current pollution. The amount of arsenic, lead, cadmium, or mercury in certain foods depends on the amount in the soil and how much the plant absorbs.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), no level of lead is safe for consumption, whether it is in cinnamon or any other food product. Levels above 1 ppm of lead will trigger a recall in New York, strangely the only state that even regulates heavy metals in spice products. Lead and other toxic heavy metals can accumulate in the human body over time and may be harmful even at low exposure levels.
Small doses of lead can have significant impacts on a child. Low levels of childhood exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells. Permanent intellectual disabilities and behavioral disorders have been reported following lead exposure.
The FDA does not have specific guidelines for voluntary cinnamon recalls and for what levels of certain heavy metals are acceptable in consumer products like cinnamon, and companies are largely left to their own devices on what they deem safe.
The FDA recommends, however, that individuals stop using and dispose of any recalled ground cinnamon products.
The following companies have issued cinnamon recalls:
- La Fiesta Food Products
- Moran Foods, LLC
- MTCI
- Raja Foods LLC
- Supreme Tradition Greenbriar International Inc
- El Chilar
The FDA has reportedly sent a letter to all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors, and facility managers in the U.S. reminding them of the requirement to implement controls to prevent lead contamination in a variety of consumables, including ground cinnamon products.
The agency says consuming these products may contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood and long-term exposure to lead in the diet could contribute to adverse health effects.
Contact our product recall lawyers to learn more about toxic exposure lawsuits and to discuss potential legal action. Joe Lyon has two decades of experience in the fields of product liability and toxic tort litigation. Free consultations are available.