FDA and health officials are firing off warnings to every consumer who's picked up ground cinnamon from Dollar Tree stores in Portland. The reason? Your spice might come with a seasoning of lead. According to an alert, there's been a discovery of dangerously high lead levels in a batch of ground cinnamon under the brand name Supreme Tradition, and it’s serious enough for the authorities to tell you to chuck it or face health risks.
A recall notice blasted out on March 6 notes that besides Supreme Tradition, there are five other spice brands to stay clear of: La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, Swad, and El Chilar. And while the fear is centered on Supreme Tradition, potentially sold at Dollar Trees, the other brands are not getting a free pass. Sold by multiple distributors and inspired by the chilling reminder of a similar October incident – cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products pulled off the shelves for the same issue – the FDA's got their lab coats in a bunch analysing spice samples from discount retail joints.
"There is no safe level of lead in the blood for children, and even low levels can have lifelong health impacts," warned a quote Perry Cabot, a senior program specialist at Multnomah County’s Health Department, provided by Multnomah County News. Indeed, the health honchos aren't finding any local blood tests concerning yet, which might be a silver lining in a lead-clouded sky. But talk about shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted – consumers should've been wary since the October case. The thing with these spices is, they stick around, having one heck of a shelf life. So the advice now? Check your pantry, and if you’ve got the suspect spice, hold onto it in case the unfortunate need for further testing arises.
Health officials are patting down Portland in search for potential victims. Parents and caregivers are strongly suggested to get blood tests if they think kiddos might've had a sprinkle of the lead-laced spice. The task is clear, but the trust in our taste for a safe sprinkle of cinnamon? Well, that's now up for debate.
