A quintessential holiday spice made by a single manufacturer has been recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for possible contamination.<\/p>\n
The FDA recalled Lucky Foods brand cinnamon powder on Tuesday after an analysis <\/a>conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found high levels of lead. <\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear how the product became contaminated. Lead may be present in food<\/a> products as a result of the environment in which they\u2019re grown or processed. <\/p>\n The FDA said the distributor, TBC Distribution Corp. of Brooklyn, N.Y., has ceased working with the supplier. <\/p>\n No illnesses in connection with the tainted cinnamon have been reported.<\/p>\n Details of recalled product<\/p>\n Lucky Foods cinnamon powder is packaged in a vacuum or modified atmosphere pouch<\/a> \u2014 a way of extending shelf life. <\/p>\n The packages each contain 40 grams of cinnamon. <\/p>\n The FDA did not provide a UPC code for the affected product. <\/p>\n Where the product was sold<\/p>\n Lucky Foods\u2019 cinnamon powder was distributed between April 11 and Sept. 1 to grocery stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, delis, bakeries and restaurants in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.<\/p>\n Side effects of lead exposure<\/p>\n Adverse effects depend on the level of lead in the food, the age of the consumer and the frequency of exposure. <\/p>\n Short-term or very low levels of exposure may not cause any symptoms beyond elevated lead levels in blood tests, according to the FDA. <\/p>\n If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (weeks to months), permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur. This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects and other long-term health problems, according to the FDA. <\/p>\n For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension and neurocognitive effects.<\/p>\n What you should do<\/p>\n The FDA did not provide specific instructions for the recalled cinnamon but the agency\u2019s general guidance is<\/a> to either return recalled products to the place of purchase for a refund or throw them away.<\/p>\n If the contaminated food product came into contact with a fridge or countertops, the FDA recommends cleaning and disinfecting those areas and then washing hands with soap and warm water.<\/p>\n Need to bake with cinnamon? Try these brands<\/p>\n