The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety advisory for six brands of ground cinnamon that may contain lead. These products were sold by various retailers, including Supreme Tradition brand ground cinnamon sold by Dollar Tree stores in Whatcom County.
The other affected brands include El Chilar, La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, and Swad. These other brands may not have been sold in local stores.
Recommended Actions:
- Check your pantry. The FDA advises that these products have a long shelf life, and consumers should check their homes for them.
- Check the lot numbers on the packaging, which may be printed as a series of letters and numbers or as a barcode. The lot numbers of the affected products can be found in the FDA safety alert.
- If you have any of the affected products, the FDA advises you to stop using them and dispose of them. Do not eat, sell or serve these products.
The FDA has not yet received any reports of illnesses or events associated with these products. If you suspect that someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead, talk to your healthcare provider. Most people have no obvious or immediate symptoms. For more information on lead exposure, visit the Washington State Department of Health website.
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