WASHINGTON—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended a voluntary recall of several ground cinnamon products sold at six different retailers across the U.S. over concerns they may contain elevated levels of lead.

The agency has sent a letter to all cinnamon manufacturers, processors, distributors and facility operators in the U.S., reminding them of the requirement to implement controls to prevent contamination from potential chemical hazards in food, including ground cinnamon products.

The FDA stated that while no illnesses or adverse events have been reported in connection with the products yet, “the FDA is concerned that, because of the elevated lead levels in these products, continued and prolonged use of the products may be unsafe.”

The products in question have lead content ranging from 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million (ppm), which is approximately 2,000 ppm lower than the levels of lead associated with the cinnamon in previously recalled apple puree and apple sauce products, the FDA said.

The ground cinnamon products in question as as follows:

“Today’s actions serve as a signal to industry that more needs to be done to prevent elevated levels of contaminants from entering our food supply,” said Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones. “Food growers, manufacturers, importers and retailers share a responsibility for ensuring the safety of the foods that reach store shelves. The levels of lead we found in some ground cinnamon products are too high and we must do better to protect those most vulnerable to the negative health outcomes of exposure to elevated levels of lead.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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