More culinary herbs recalled due to dangerous levels of carcinogenic lead
Two more products are being added to the widespread recall of cinnamon over fears they are contaminated with elevated levels of lead.
The FDA said Gutierrez Distributor of Passaic, NJ is recalling El Servidor Corp and Gutierrez brand ground cinnamon because it may contain metals linked to cancer and other health problems.
Cinnamon recalls began in October, when cinnamon applesauce packets were recalled for the same reason. Shortly after, six other brands of ground cinnamon were recalled.
El Servidor Corp’s cinnamon, sold to consumers in New York in a 1.5 ounce bag starting in January 2024
In March, two more batches of cinnamon products were recalled, and earlier this month, more products were added.
New brands of ground cinnamon have now also appeared on the list.
El Servidor Corp’s cinnamon will be available in stores across New York starting in January 2024 and will be sold in a 1.5 oz clear bag.
The Gutierrez brand was sold to retailers who purchased cinnamon at a cash-and-carry store, also in a 42-gram clear bag.
The Gutierrez-based distributor has not reported any illnesses related to the contamination. He said the products were recalled after independent testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
The FDA’s announcement did not provide details about how the products could have become contaminated with lead.
There are many different ways that the spice could be contaminated with lead. This includes the soil it was planted in, old equipment it came into contact with, or lead-laden pipes in the factory where it was processed.
When lead is ingested, it can travel through the blood throughout the body and settle in soft tissues such as the kidneys, liver and lungs, where it damages those organs.
The severity of your reaction to lead depends on your age, body weight and the amount of lead you are exposed to. However, officials have warned that there is no safe level of lead exposure.
In higher doses or with frequent exposure, it has been linked to behavioral problems, growth problems and learning disabilities in children. Hundreds of children have fallen ill in the past year.
The October applesauce recall was prompted in part by 69 cases of illnesses potentially linked to the products, affecting children under the age of six in 28 states.
And in adults, health authorities classified it as a possibly carcinogenic. It can also cause kidney problems, high blood pressure and neurological problems.
Lead was widely used in construction because it was cheap, durable, and easy to shape – making it a popular material for machinery, plumbing systems, and new construction. It was also a popular additive for paints, pesticides, and even tableware in post-World War II America.
Given the widespread presence of lead in everyday materials, nearly nine out of ten American children had high levels of lead in their systems in the 1970s. According to the CDCBy 2008, that number had dropped to nearly one in a hundred.
The toxic element is still used today to power batteries, but it has been removed from many environments that would contaminate food or water. In addition, parents are now more aware of the effects of this product and are more cautious about exposing their children to it.