This combination of photos provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 shows cinnamon products sold in U.S. discount stores which contain elevated levels of lead. Top row from left are distributed by La Fiesta Food Products of La Miranda, Calif.; Moran Foods, LLC of Saint Ann, Mo., and MTCI of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Bottom row from left are from Raja Foods LLC of Skokie, Ill.; Greenbriar International, Inc. of Chesapeake, Va., and El Chilar of Apopka, Fla. (FDA via AP) (Uncredited)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The FDA is out with a new alert over cinnamon products sold across the U.S., including here in Florida.
The FDA is recommending recalls from the following brands: La Fiesta, Marcum, MTCI, SWAD, Supreme Tradition and Apopka-based company El Chilar.
Last October, the FDA reported over 450 confirmed and suspected cases with lead poisoning among kids.
They later traced the lead back to pouches of cinnamon applesauce for children. At least one official believes it was done on purpose to increase the weight of the products.
As for this latest recall, the FDA says the levels of lead in the brands of ground cinnamon is much lower, but if you find those brands in your house, you should still throw them out.
This combination of photos provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 shows cinnamon products sold in U.S. discount stores which contain elevated levels of lead. Top row from left are distributed by La Fiesta Food Products of La Miranda, Calif.; Moran Foods, LLC of Saint Ann, Mo., and MTCI of Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Bottom row from left are from Raja Foods LLC of Skokie, Ill.; Greenbriar International, Inc. of Chesapeake, Va., and El Chilar of Apopka, Fla. (FDA via AP)
Some of the biggest retailers where the cinnamon products are sold include Save-a-Lot, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.
He says more teens are vaping and using drugs during spring break.
“We live in a dangerous world now. We’re watching where high school kids that are vaping that when they’re arrested or something occurs and they take a urine test, they’re testing positive for fentanyl, cocaine, and meth.”
Sheriff Chitwood says there will be a greater law enforcement presence this year in well-known spots like Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach.
They’ll also have tools to monitor crowds from above.
Katrina Scales is a senior content producer for News 6 Mornings, News 6 at Noon, News 6 at 4:30 p.m. and for WKMG's numerous digital platforms. She is the voice and producer behind the award-winning podcast "Your Florida Daily". Katrina grew up in Brevard County and began her journalism career in radio before joining News 6 in 2021.
