Cinnamon Recall Update As Another Company Withdraws Products

The cinnamon recall has widened as yet another company has recalled their products because they may be contaminated with lead.

Multiple cinnamon products made by various manufacturers have been found to contain lead already this year.

The latest product to be affected is the El Servidor ground cinnamon, which is distributed by Gutierrez. This is the sixth cinnamon product to be recalled since the beginning of June.

On August 19 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a recall, saying: “Gutierrez Distributor of Passaic, NJ is recalling El Servidor Corp brand ground cinnamon because it has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead. Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure.”

The ground cinnamon products were distributed to stores in New York from January 14 onwards. The product is sold in a 1.5-ounce clear plastic bag.

It is understood that traces of lead were found in the El Servidor Corp brand cinnamon after sample analysis conducted by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSAGM) that revealed the product contained elevated levels of lead.

However no health problems have yet been reported in relation to the food product.

The company has now ceased the production and distribution of its ground cinnamon products until it gets to the bottom of the matter.

Newsweek has contacted Gutierrez on Facebook for comment.

Customers are told to stop using the affected ground cinnamon immediately and return it to the shop they bought it from for a full refund.

Consumers can also contact the company on (973) 777-1851 Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM EST.

This is the second cinnamon product to be recalled by the FDA within a month due to elevated levels of lead. On August 13, El Chilar cinnamon products were recalled by the FDA after elevated levels of lead were found in them. Later investigation suggested this was due to a “potentially adulterated raw material from the supplier.”

Lead is a toxic substance that can cause a range of health problems in adults including kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure and neurocognitive effects. In very extreme cases it can also cause seizures, comas and death.

Lead is particularly dangerous for children due to the sensitive nature of their bodies and brains. Lead exposure in children can lead to learning disorders and developmental defects.

The FDA advises that if a child is exposed to lead for a long period of time then “permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur.”

The severity of the health issues associated with lead exposure depend on age, body weight and the duration of the exposure.