The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday warned consumers that ground cinnamon sold by discount stores, including Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, contains high levels of lead. 

FDA Warns About Ground Cinnamon Tainted With Lead

According to the Associated Press, the FDA said some ground cinnamon products sold by discount retailers contain unsafe levels of lead and should be discarded. 

The agency noted that high levels of lead are unsafe for people, particularly children, with prolonged exposure to the spice. The FDA urged suppliers to recall the products voluntarily.

The FDA safety alert said that "removing the ground cinnamon products in this alert from the market will prevent them from contributing elevated amounts of lead to the diets of children."

Among the cinnamon products included in the agency's alert were the La Fiesta brand sold by La Superior and SuperMercados, the El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Morelense, the MK brands sold by SF Supermarket, the Marcum brand sold by Save A Lot stores, the Swad brand sold by Patel Brothers, and the Supreme Tradition brand sold by Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores.

According to the AP, the ground cinnamon products in Wednesday's notice contained 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million lead levels.

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FDA Recommendations for Consumers Regarding Ground Cinnamon With Lead

The FDA said consumers should check their homes for these contaminated products and throw them away. Federal health officials also said consumers should not eat, sell, or serve these ground cinnamon products tainted with lead.

The AP reported that there is no safe level of lead exposure for humans, and long-term exposure to lead, especially in growing children, can cause lower IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral difficulties.

A company spokesperson told AP that Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores have already removed cinnamon products from their shelves, and customers can ask for a refund after returning these products to nearby stores.

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