More cinnamon products are being added to a nationwide recall over fears they are contaminated with high levels of a toxic metal.
The FDA today added Asli brand ground cinnamon to the list, saying the product contained “elevated levels of lead,” which is linked to cancer and lower IQ.
It is the tenth cinnamon product to be recalled in the past year for containing too much lead, which can enter the spice from soil or factory contamination.
The cinnamon product recalls began in October, when officials detected high levels of lead in bags of cinnamon applesauce, and the list has been gradually growing since then.
On Tuesday, El Servidor Corp and Gutierrez brand cinnamon sachets were added to the recall. And earlier this month, ground cinnamon ‘Canela Molida’ was also recalled.
It’s not clear exactly why so many cinnamon products contain traces of lead, but the FDA previously said it was investigating whether the substance was intentionally added for economic gain.
In previous cases, red brick, red lead salt, lead oxide and lead chromate (which reflect the red color of the spice) have been added to cinnamon bags to enhance their color and, as a result, their value.