Ongoing FDA Cinnamon Recall Has Been Expanded

A recall of ground cinnamon that was issued by the Food and Drug Administration last August is still ongoing.  Not only that, it's been expanded.

Refresh my memory...  What's the recall about?

The initial recall was due to high levels of lead found in ground cinnamon.  Since then, the recall has been expanded four times to include more brands, three of them in just the last two months.

The recall now includes 16 separate brands, sold across the country.

If there's a common connection between the brands affected by the recall, it hasn't been announced.  And by common connection, I'm talking about something like the cinnamon all came from the same location.

What do we do?

Check your pantry.  Ground cinnamon has a long shelf life, so unless you use a lot of ground cinnamon, there's a chance it's still there.

Second, as with any food recall, don't eat the product or, in this case, anything made using it.  Throw it out.

According to the FDA, there have been no illnesses reported in connection with the recall.  But remember, lead exposure is a long-term thing.  It takes time to build up in our bodies, and the symptoms may take even longer to show.  The FDA also wants to stress that the very young are vulnerable to lead, since their growing bodies would be more susceptible to lead's effects on the body.  If you're concerned, consult your doctor.