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Federal officials say possible lead contamination is the cause of Grand Cinnamon recalls in 14 states.
Cinnamon was distributed by TBC Distribution Corporate of Brooklyn, New York, according to a Dec. 9 post on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.
Officials said the recall was announced after an analysis by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets found high levels of lead in Lucky Foods brand cinnamon powder.
According to the recall, the affected cinnamon has a best-before date of September 15, 2027, and is “packaged in a 40g pouch in a vacuum or modified atmosphere, with a brown label identifying the Lucky Foods brand affixed to the top of the pouch.”
According to the FDA, the recall is related to an ongoing public health warning about lead contamination in cinnamon products starting in 2024. The Lucky Foods brand cinnamon that was subject to the recall was added to the alert on December 10th.
Where was the recalled cinnamon sold?
The affected products were distributed to retailers in the following 14 states from April 11th to September 1st:
- California
- florida
- georgia
- illinois
- maryland
- Michigan
- north carolina
- new jersey
- new york
- ohio
- Oregon
- pennsylvania
- south carolina
- texas
Were there any illnesses associated with the recalled cinnamon?
Officials said no illnesses related to the recall have been reported.
Other Cinnamon Products Listed Under FDA Public Health Warnings
In addition to the Lucky Foods brand, other brands included in the alert include:
- lucky foods
- Ven’s Traders
- Devi
- Bailiffen
- Roshni
- Hetae (HT)
- Dura
- wise wife
- jiva organic
- super brand
- original
- killer
- markham
- Swad
- supreme tradition
- oriental indie company
- ALB flavor
- Shahzada
- spice class
- border
Symptoms of short-term lead exposure
Short-term exposure to low levels of lead may not cause obvious symptoms. Elevated blood lead levels may be the only sign of lead exposure.
The FDA said that when children are exposed to large amounts of lead over a period of weeks or months, it can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system. “This can lead to learning disabilities, developmental disorders, and other long-term health problems,” the FDA writes.
Chronic lead exposure can cause renal dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects in adults.
What should I do if I have a cinnamon product included in this recall?
If you have this recalled cinnamon that is affected by an ongoing recall, refrain from consuming it and contact the company for more information at 718-444-5556 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
