FDA issues new alert about lead contamination in cinnamon

The Food and Drug Administration has identified an additional cinnamon product sold in the United States that is contaminated with lead.

The alert shared on Thursday that the ground cinnamon El Servidor, distributed by the Elmhurst, New York company with the same name, is the latest cinnamon product identified to have a high level of lead.

FDA testing found that the cinnamon had elevated levels of lead at 20 parts per million. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has a proposed international safety standard of 2.5 parts per million of lead for bark spices like cinnamon.

In response to the discovery, the FDA has asked El Servidor to recall its cinnamon product.

So far, no illnesses have been reported in the FDA warning. Those who still have the product are being advised to stop using it and throw it away.

The cinnamon identified in the alert was sold at a supermarket in New York City. The FDA noted that it was not clear if it was more widely distributed.

Elevated levels can be extremely toxic to the body, particularly for young children, as they have smaller bodies and are still growing.

If young children are exposed to high levels of lead, they can suffer long-term neurologic and developmental problems like learning disabilities and lowered IQ.

Symptoms of lead exposure may include headache, fatigue, and abdominal pain.