Unsafe levels of lead have been detected in more ground cinnamon products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned.
The announcement comes mere days after the FDA warned consumers to "stop using and dispose of" ground cinnamon from the brand El Servidor. Products now listed in the growing public health alert include those by the brands El Chilar, Marcum, SWAD, Supreme Tradition, Compania Indillor Orientale, ALB Flavor, Shahzada, Spice Class and La Frontera.
The FDA has called on the companies in question to voluntarily recall the affected products and warned consumers to check their spice racks and toss out any contaminated items.
Lead is a toxic metal that can build up in the body over time. It can damage the nervous system, impair development and cause other serious health problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of lead can cause headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia, while prolonged exposure may lead to irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches or burning, constipation, difficulty concentrating, tremors and weight loss.
While the FDA doesn't set limits for lead levels in spices, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization recommends that they should not exceed 2.5 parts per million (ppm) in bark spices such as cinnamon.
One lot of El Chilar ground cinnamon was found by the FDA to have a lead concentration of 7.01 ppm—while El Servidor's product reached 20 ppm.The other products highlighted by the agency were all found to have lead levels at 2.03 ppm or higher.
However, to date, no illnesses or adverse events have been reported in connection with the consumption of these products.
Nevertheless, the FDA has advised consumers to "throw away and not buy" nine ground cinnamon products, three of which have been recalled. The agency has also called for the voluntary recall of the other six products.
The FDA has highlighted the risk to children, with cinnamon used in many products consumed by this age group.
"For example, the very young are particularly vulnerable to the potential harmful effects from lead exposure because of their smaller body sizes and rapid metabolism and growth," the agency said in a statement.
"High levels of exposure to lead in utero, infancy, and early childhood can lead to neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, and lowered IQ.
"For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects."
The organization also advised consulting a healthcare provider if lead exposure is suspected, as short-term exposure to low levels may not elicit any symptoms.
It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of exposure.
It also said good nutrition, eating a variety of foods from the five food groups– vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and proteins–can help protect against the health effects from exposure to lead.
Although there have been no reported illnesses or adverse events related to the cinnamon products thus far, the presence of lead has raised concerns and led to closer examination of similar products on the market.
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