It’s that time of year again, where it’s pumpkin spice and everything nice! From baked goods to scented candles, fall is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite spices. One of the most popular being cinnamon. Not only is this an everyday staple spice in some households, but it is especially essential when it comes to these cozy, fall months. However, within the past year, there has been a recall of cinnamon due to the increased presence of lead in popular cinnamon brands. On September 12, Consumer Reports came out with a new study on even more cinnamon powders you shouldn’t use. Let’s take a closer look at what this cinnamon recall could mean for this fall season.

Understanding Food Recalls

Before we get into a deep dive of all things cinnamon, let’s understand what even is a food recall? According to the FDA (Food & Drug Administration), it is when there are “removals of foods from the market that are in violation of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations.”

It is important to be aware of food recalls, to prevent any unnecessary injury or illness to certain individuals. Specifically with lead poisoning, this can cause different kinds of health risks in both adults and children. This can involve brain damage, kidney dysfunction, developmental defects, and learning disorders. 

Recalled Cinnamon Brands To Avoid

Don’t worry you don’t have to throw away everything in your spice drawer, but according to the FDA here are just a couple of the cinnamon brands to try avoiding this fall season:

  • Asli Fine Foods
  • El Chilar Ground Cinnamon
  • Marcum & Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon
  • Rajja Foods, LLC Cinnamon Powder
  • MAMTAKIM, Inc. Cinnamon Powder
  • ALB Flavor Ground Cinnamon
  • Shahzada Brand Cinnamon Powder
  • Spice Class Ground Cinnamon
  • La Frontera Imports Ground Cinnamon

These are just a few that the FDA has recommended avoiding, however, there are more resources and news stations that list out unsafe cinnamon brands that contain high levels of lead in them.

How to Check If Your Cinnamon Product Is Recalled

There are a couple of steps you can take to ensure whether the cinnamon products you own are recalled items or not. First things first is to always check the labels. Identify if these are one of the unrecommended cinnamon brands from the FDA and decipher from there if it is meant to be kept or thrown out. 

If you are unsure and need more information on your household products and the ground cinnamon recall, you can always visit the brands’ website as well as the Food & Drug Administration. Here they can provide you direct information on what is and isn’t safe to consume.

What Can You Do If You Have a Recalled Product?

It is recommended to reach out to a healthcare provider if you have any health concerns pertaining to the consumption of a recalled product. Seeking medical help to treat any potential injury or illness is the first important step. 

However, if any of these health concerns have caused physical or emotional distress, it can be addressed legally. The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP suggest filing a personal injury claim against cinnamon brands if consuming their product may have caused severe injury or illness. 

Conclusion

As we head into this fall season and get ready to use different spices for our fall cooking, it is crucial to still keep in mind food safety and the potential dangers of indulging in everyday staple items. By ensuring what we are consuming is safe, it can help us to fully enjoy the fall season that we know and love.