Please share widely, as this especially affects people who might have purchased spices from discount retailers like The dollar Store and some mercados.
-----Original Message-----
From: Washington Poison Center <yukbox@wapc.org>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2024 11:37 AM
To: Stephanie Wood <SWood@tpchd.org>
Subject: 🚨 Alert: Unsafe levels of lead in ground cinnamon
CAUTION: External Email - Verify contents
Throw away & do not use these products
https://medium.com/@WAPoisonCenter/unsafe-levels-of-lead-in-ground-cinnamon-products-67abefba82c6
March 25, 2024
The Washington Poison Center advises throwing away and not buying multiple ground cinnamon products, as they may contain unsafe levels of lead. If a child has eaten foods containing implicated ground cinnamon products, talk to their healthcare provider about getting a blood test for lead poisoning.
The FDA found unsafe levels of lead in six ground cinnamon products:
These products are primarily available at discount retailers, including Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, La Superior, and SuperMercados. Products likely sold in Washington are La Fiesta Brand Cinnamon Ground and Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon. Some products, such as Marcum Cinnamon Ground, are sold through online retailers. View the FDA’s alert (https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead) for affected lots/codes and additional details.
Negative health effects from lead, or “lead poisoning,” can occur when lead builds up in the body. The amount of lead in these ground cinnamon products is small, and so far, no one has reported illness from the products. However, the lead in these products can cause harm if a person uses a product over months to years, which would accumulate lead in the body. A product may also be harmful if it adds on to lead from other sources in a person’s body.
Anyone can experience lead poisoning, but poisoning in infants, toddlers, and young children is especially concerning due to lead’s harmful effects on growth and development. Most children with lead poisoning will not look or act sick. Instead, children with lead poisoning may experience slower growth, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and learning, and difficulty regulating their emotions. Lead poisoning rarely causes immediate visible symptoms (such as headaches or vomiting), unless lead is present in extremely high levels in the body. And, developmental impacts from lead poisoning may not be visible until years later when the child is in school.
A blood test is the only way to know if a child has lead in their body. If you are concerned about your child, contact their healthcare provider and request a blood test. If your child has lead in their body, their provider may recommend dietary changes, referrals to developmental services, follow up testing, and other measures to reduce harm from lead and prevent further exposure. Call the Washington Poison Center with any questions about lead poisoning: 1-800-222-1222. Healthcare providers may also call the Washington Poison Center for assistance with interpreting blood lead levels.
Learn more in this video and on the FDA’s Alert (https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead) .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0kcOUZ0rmI
Resources:
* Washington Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222
* Washington State Department of Health: Lead (https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/lead)
* Public Health – Seattle & King County: Facts about lead and its human effects (https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/health/environmental-health/toxins-air-quality/arsenic-lead/about-lead.aspx)
* Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm)
For inquiries, contact mryuk@wapc.org (mailto:mryuk@wapc.org) .
To share this alert, use our post on Medium (https://medium.com/@WAPoisonCenter/unsafe-levels-of-lead-in-ground-cinnamon-products-67abefba82c6) .
About the WAPC: The Washington Poison Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit mandated by Washington State to deliver poison and drug exposure-related medical advice and education to community members, first responders, and healthcare providers. WAPC provides medical advice through a 24/7/365 free telephone line staffed by specially trained pharmacists, nurses, and physician medical toxicologists. WAPC also provides free programs to educate local communities on poison safety, prevention, and harm reduction.
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