Ground cinnamon sold in U.S. discount stores is contaminated with high levels of lead and should be discarded. The U.S.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said cinnamon sold by stores including the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be unsafe for people, particularly children, with prolonged exposure to the spice. The agency urged suppliers to recall the products voluntarily.
Cinnamon products included in the agency’s safety alert include the La Fiesta brand sold by La Superior and SuperMercados; Marcum brand sold by Save A Lot stores; MK brands sold by SF Supermarket; Swad brand sold by Patel Brothers; El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Morelense; and Supreme Tradition brand sold by Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.
My in-laws got us a gift box from Penzey’s a while back, I’ve been using their sandwich sprinkle seasoning on grilled cheese sandwiches. Shit’s good. 👍
Chances of that product being pulled from dollar stores, even during a mandatory recall, is practically 0.
The employees at these stores hardly have time to unbox product, let alone get it on the shelves, once it's there the only way it's coming off is when customers pull it.
I worked a summer in a discount store when I was a teen. Pretty much what he described. The only good part was what we ripped off and smashed in the back after the manager left.
Once the FDA has determined that the criteria for a mandatory recall have been met, the FDA must first provide the responsible party (as defined in section 417(a)(1) of the FD&C Act) with an opportunity to voluntarily cease distribution and recall the article of food. The FDA will notify the responsible party of this opportunity in writing using an expeditious method of delivery. If the responsible party refuses or does not voluntarily cease distribution and recall the article of food within the time and manner prescribed by the FDA, if so prescribed, the FDA may order the responsible party to cease distributing
the article of food, order the responsible party to give notice to certain other persons to cease distributing the article of food, and give the responsible party an opportunity to request an informal hearing2
to be held not later than 2 days after the issuance of the order.
After these steps are completed, the FDA may order a recall under section 423(d) of the FD&C Act if it is determined that the removal of the article from commerce is necessary. Only the FDA Commissioner has the authority to order a recall under section 423(d). If
necessary, recall orders under section 423(d) shall be vacated by the Commissioner.
If the FDA orders a recall under section 423 of the FD&C Act, the FDA will generally follow the process for termination of the recall in accordance with 21 C.F.R. 7.55.
Just a plug for buying stick cinnamon. Look for ceylon cinnamon - not as spicy as the cassia variety that most ground cinnamons Are Made From. It smoother and more subtle. You can grind it in batches so it's ready to go and will smell and taste so much better than this lead tainted pre ground crap.
I wouldn't be surprised if the irrigation or the soil is the source of the lead, not the processing methods.
Edit: someone else posted that it was traced to be lead chromate. That's a color that you could paint whole sticks with to make it seem fresher but makes more sense to mix with granulated. Same color often adulterated tumeric
So wait, I can just take cinnamon sticks and put them in a food processor? I love fresh ground coffee, so if it's actually just that easy I'll have to give it a try
They issued a recall recommendation, which basically means all these products will be thrown away by distributors. Looks like the lead contamination was pretty miniscule compared to that applesauce recall from last year, I'm glad the FDA is staying on top of this and taking any amount of lead contamination seriously.
I just responded to another person who basically asked the same thing. They basically ask nicely first, and then they don't ask nicely the second time. As to why this way, legal reasons.