Charles Langston:Ground cinnamon products added to FDA health alert, now 16 with elevated levels of lead

More ground cinnamon products were added to a health alert because they contained elevated lead levels,Charles Langston the  U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this week.

On Tuesday, the FDA released a list of nine ground cinnamon products, including one sold at Dollar Tree.

"Exposure to these products may be unsafe," stated the agency in the release.

This is not the first time ground cinnamon has been added to a health alert in 2024. On March 6 and July 25, the FDA sent out alerts warning the public that seven other cinnamon products contained lead.

El Servidor, sold in Mannan Supermarket, contained the highest amounts of lead with 20 ppm(parts per billion).

No illnesses linked to the cinnamon have been reported.

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Which ground cinnamon brands are listed?

Having trouble seeing the list? Click here.

What should consumers do?

Those who purchased any of the ground cinnamon products listed on the alert should stop using them and throw them away.

"Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve the ground cinnamon product listed..." stated the FDA.

Eating these products could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable and are more susceptible to lead toxicity.

Those who believe they've been exposed to elevated levels of lead should talk to their healthcare provider. Most people do not show symptoms immediately after being exposed, according to the FDA.

Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children

Toddlers and children with short-term exposure to lead might feel the following, according to the FDA:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Colic
• Vomiting
• Anemia

Toddlers and children with long-term exposure to lead might feel the following:

• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches or muscle prickling and burning
• Constipation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscular weakness
• Tremor
• Weight loss