A potential health hazard lurks in many kitchens across the country, and it's time to shine a light on this issue. We're talking about cinnamon, a beloved spice with a dark secret.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning about several brands of ground cinnamon, stating they contain elevated levels of lead. This is not a one-off incident; it's part of a larger, ongoing concern.
In the past week alone, the FDA has added four more cinnamon brands to its list of unsafe products, bringing the total to a concerning 16 labels. These include HAETAE, Roshni, Durra, and Wise Wife. The agency's alert states, "Prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe and could contribute to elevated lead levels in the blood."
But here's where it gets controversial: the FDA has asked all companies, except HAETAE, to voluntarily recall these products. So far, only 10 out of the 16 identified brands have issued recall announcements. This means there are potentially harmful cinnamon products still on shelves and in homes.
If you have any of these ground cinnamon brands in your pantry, the FDA advises you to dispose of them immediately. The affected brands include:
- Roshni (2.268 ppm)
- HAETAE (4.60 ppm)
- Durra (2.44 ppm)
- Wise Wife (2.49 ppm)
- Jiva Organics (2.29 ppm)
- Super Brand (7.68 and 6.60 ppm)
- Asli (2.32 ppm)
- El Chilar (3.75 and 7.01 ppm)
- Marcum (2.22 and 2.14 ppm)
- SWAD (2.89 ppm)
- Supreme Tradition (2.37 ppm)
- Compania Indillor Orientale (2.23 ppm)
- ALB Flavor (3.93 ppm)
- Shahzada (2.03 ppm)
- Spice Class (2.04 ppm)
- La Frontera (2.66 ppm)
This is not the first time lead has contaminated the nation's cinnamon supply. Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, explains that cinnamon, derived from the inner bark of several tree species, can absorb lead from the soil it's grown in, which may be contaminated with industrial byproducts. Lead can also enter cinnamon through processing equipment, storage containers, or packaging.
To address this issue, the FDA monitors and regulates lead levels in foods. In 2023, the agency investigated the source of tainted cinnamon in applesauce pouches, which led to hundreds of children suffering from lead poisoning. The products, eventually recalled, were sold by brands WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks.
Last year, the FDA issued three separate alerts regarding ground cinnamon products with elevated lead levels. The agency continues to update its alert, which was last launched in August 2024. Ronholm expressed concern about the persistence of these elevated lead levels in cinnamon, but also relief that the FDA is actively scrutinizing these products despite budget and staffing uncertainties.
In March, the FDA announced plans to cut 3,500 employees, although some of these layoffs have since been reversed. This highlights the challenges the agency faces in ensuring the safety of thousands of FDA-regulated products, from food to drugs to cosmetics, which are recalled each year to protect public health.
The impact of lead on health is severe. The FDA states that there is no known safe level of contact with lead. Prolonged exposure to elevated lead levels can lead to a range of adverse health effects, particularly in young children. High levels of lead exposure in utero, infancy, and early childhood can result in neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties, and lowered IQ.
Lead can also cause long-term health problems in adults, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, and kidney damage, according to the World Health Organization.
So, the question remains: Are we doing enough to ensure the safety of our food supply? What steps can we take to protect ourselves and our families from these hidden dangers? Share your thoughts and concerns in the comments below.
