Check Your Spice Cabinets: More Brands of Cinnamon Recalled Due to Lead Contamination

With pumpkin spice and fall baking season underway, consumers are warned to be mindful of the spices in which they consume, as multiple brands of cinnamon products have been recalled over the course of the last year due to lead contamination. 

The first alert released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came in March of this year, in which they revealed  that numerous brands of cinnamon products had elevated levels of lead. These brands included La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, Swad, Supreme Tradition and El Chilar. 

The recall has since expanded since then, most recently to include Gutierrez brand ground cinnamon on the list. The Passaic, New Jersey-based distributor, Gutierrez Distributor, has recalled the El Servidor Corp and Gutierrez brand ground cinnamon due to the amount of lead present. 

The product, which was sold in 1.5 oz clear bags, was distributed throughout New York as early as January, and while no illnesses related to the contamination have been reported, it’s important to remain vigilant and mindful of the products you are consuming and purchasing going forward especially as you embark on your autumnal baking sprees. 

What happens if you consume lead?

According to the statement put out by the FDA in the wake of the Gutierrez recall, the adverse health effects of lead exposure will only materialize if you are exposed for a long period of time or to extremely high levels. Childhood exposure to lead, however, should be avoided at all costs. 

“If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur,” the FDA’s statement noted. “This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems. For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects.”

How did the cinnamon become contaminated with lead?

Lead contamination can happen due to food growing and processing locations. In the past, it was common for lead to be used in things like paint and other products. If a food product is grown or processed in an environment in which lead is present in materials being used or was present in the past, small amounts can make its way into the product. 

Regardless of how the cinnamon came to be contaminated with the lead, be mindful of the brands you are shopping for next time you make your grocery run. 

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