Common culinary herbs contaminated with cancer-causing ingredient hit by wave of recalls
Cinnamon has become one of the most recalled foods in America this year because it has been found to contain toxic metals that have been linked to cancer.
Earlier this week, El Chilar, LLC expanded the recall of ‘Canela Molida’ ground cinnamon after testing found traces of lead. This is the tenth brand of cinnamon to be recalled due to the presence of the toxic metal.
Officials warn that there is no safe level of lead because high levels of it have been linked to behavioral problems, growth problems and learning disabilities in children. Hundreds of children have been sickened in the past year.
In adults, health authorities have classified it as a possible carcinogen.
The latest recall is one of several products recalled because they contain lead, which has been linked to behavioral problems in children and cancer.
The FDA has urged Americans to stop using the recalled product and return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund.
It’s unclear why so many cinnamon products contain traces of lead, but the FDA previously said it is investigating whether lead was intentionally added for financial gain.
This can mean adding or removing an ingredient from a food to increase its value. For example, compounds such as red brick, red lead salt, lead oxide and lead chromate, which reflect the red color of cinnamon, have been added to increase the spice’s value, research shows.
According to Karen Everstine, technical director of FoodchainID, a company that maps food supply chains, spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and paprika are known to be mixed with lead chromate, or lead oxide. These compounds reflect the colors of the spices.
“The intent is not to make people sick. Nobody wants to do that because they’ll get caught,” Ms. Everstine said. “What they want to do is make money.”
The latest recall has been expanded from two to six lots, with 127 additional boxes sold to retailers in Maryland.
No cases of illness have been reported.
In March, Florida-based El Chilar, LLC recalled two lots of ground cinnamon — codes D-300 EX1024 and F272 EX1026. The recall now includes the following additional codes: E-054, EX 0225, D-181 and EX 0624.
According to the FDA, the affected products have been removed from shelves in Maryland, but they may still be in consumers’ homes.
The agency urges people who still have the products to return them to the store where you bought them for a full refund.
Lead is a toxic metal that has long been linked to a number of health problems, including developmental delays and behavioral problems in children.
There are also indications that autistic children have higher levels of lead in their blood, but the research is inconclusive.
Additionally, the EPA has classified lead as a probable human carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer.
Last year, WanaBana recalled its apple cinnamon fruit pouches after testing found traces of lead linked to poisoning in more than 400 children in 44 states.
According to the FDA and CDC, there is no safe level for lead consumption.
Short-term exposure to lead can lead to symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and anemia. Long-term exposure can lead to additional symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, constipation, and difficulty breathing.
