Is your cinnamon safe?

[Morning Glory]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent alert after finding elevated lead levels in 16 ground cinnamon brands sold across the country.

The agency warns that long-term exposure to these products could be harmful to your health.

Source: Is Your Cinnamon Safe? FDA Flags 16 Brands for Elevated Lead Levels

 

[TastyReuben]

First my dishes, now my cinnamon!

Off to check the pantry…

 

[TastyReuben]

I’m good - Private Selection (Kroger brand) and Stonemill (Aldi brand) aren’t on the list.

Thanks for posting that.

 

[badjak]

I hardly ever use cinnamon, so I'm not worried

 

[Barriehie]

I hardly ever use cinnamon, so I'm not worried

I go through binges of putting it in coffee... Mine is okay. Thanks MG.

 

[karadekoolaid]

My cinnamon comes from the spice company, so I've got no idea whether it's contaminated or not. It comes in 10kg sacks.
I'd imagine you'd need to consume a heck of a lot to get poisoned, mind you - unless you're a cinnamon roll freak.

 

[Morning Glory]

I'd imagine you'd need to consume a heck of a lot to get poisoned, mind you - unless you're a cinnamon roll freak.

I think its a particular issue for children.

What I can't seem to find out is how the lead got in there in the first place. There are lao issues with some spice mixes such as garam masala.

 

[Barriehie]

I think its a particular issue for children.

What I can't seem to find out is how the lead got in there in the first place. There are lao issues with some spice mixes such as garam masala.

What's lao?

 

[badjak]

What's lao?

Also...
Fat finger syndrome I assume.
As Lao, is something coming from Laos, but that doesnt really make sense

 

[SoCalZone10]

Mine is Sadaf, so it’s supposed to be very low. I do have 2 bottles from Costco but I use one for my garden.
Sadaf is a safe brand from our Consumer Reports.

 

[karadekoolaid]

What I can't seem to find out is how the lead got in there in the first place.

Lead occurs naturally in the soil, and depends on the geographic location. The "best"cinnamon in the world is considered to be Ceylon (Sri Lankan) cinnamon, but the biggest supplier is China, Indonesia, VietNam and India are also major producers.
While a lot of garam masala contains cinnamon, there are several other ingredients (sometimes, many other ingredients) and the percentage of cinnamon is small.
Not saying it's not a potential hazard, mind you.

 

[badjak]

I'm sure a lot of cinnamon here is actually cassia bark.
Once ground, you cant see the difference

 

[Morning Glory]

What's lao?

Typo. I meant 'also'!

 

[Morning Glory]

I'm sure a lot of cinnamon here is actually cassia bark.
Once ground, you cant see the difference

I have this inkling that cassia can be toxic in some way. I definitely read that somewhere ages ago. I need to look it up.

 

[Barriehie]

I have this inkling that cassia can be toxic in some way. I definitely read that somewhere ages ago. I need to look it up.

I vaguely recall that as well. Found a read here.