The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) is warning consumers to avoid cinnamon sold in four states due to the spice potentially containing dangerously high levels of lead.
A notice shared on the FDA website on Friday warned that ALB Flavor brand Cinnamon Powder was being recalled due to the possibility of contamination “with elevated levels of lead.” The product was distributed to retail outlets in New York, Connecticut, Michigan and Massachusetts from December 15, 2022, until May 13, 2024. It was not sold online.
The recalled cinnamon was sold under the ALB Flavor name in plastic bags each containing 100 grams of spice. Packaging surrounding the bag features a picture of cinnamon powder and sticks, with the front saying “packed with love in Albania.”
The UPC number “5304000333362” appears on the back of the packaging, along with a “best before” date of “30/08/2025” and the lot number “LA02.” Information about cinnamon, the origin of the product and a QR code for recipes are also included on the packaging.
“It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure,” the recall notice states. “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.”
“For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects,” it continues.
The recall was initiated after analysis of the cinnamon by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found that the spice contained high lead levels.
ALB-USA Enterprises and the FDA are investigating what caused the contamination. No related illnesses had been reported at the time that the recall was issued.
The notice states that all of the recalled product has been taken off store shelves. However, those who purchased the affected cinnamon were “urged to not consume the product and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.”
Customers with additional questions or concerns can contact the company over the phone at 917-922-5627 or 929-431-8505 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday to Friday.
Newsweek reached out for comment to ALB-USA Enterprises via email on Friday.
There has been more than one recent recall issued over concerns about cinnamon containing unacceptably high levels of lead. On Thursday, the FDA shared a public health alert warning consumers to ” stop using and dispose of” ground cinnamon products by the brand El Servidor due to lead contamination.
The FDA said it was “continuing to analyze” other cinnamon products and reviewing “sample results received from state partners who have been continuously sampling ground cinnamon at retail for elevated levels of lead.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is “no safe blood lead level,” as even low levels of the metal have the ability to seriously impact the health of children. Most children have no obvious immediate symptoms but may later experience signs of brain damage or learning disabilities.
Short-term symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, abdominal pain, colic, vomiting and anemia. Long-term exposure can result in irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors and weight loss.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
