Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” recall: Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead

El Chilar Other food products — recalled other food products
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Lead or heavy metal content

The recall is about heavy metal content exceeding what U.S. law allows in a product children handle.

What the notice says: El Chilar Rodriguez LLC of Apopka, FL is recalling 127 cases (12 bags/case) of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” (1.25 oz bag), because it may contain traces of lead.

Why it matters: The product exceeds the federal limit on lead or another heavy metal. Lead harms the developing brain, and the damage builds quietly from small repeated exposures rather than arriving as a single dramatic poisoning.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC states there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood, and that most children with elevated levels show no symptoms at all. That is why a blood lead test, not a symptom check, is the way to find out. Ask your paediatrician about testing if a child has handled, mouthed or worn the product regularly. Where symptoms do appear they are non-specific — irritability, poor appetite, stomach pain, tiredness, constipation or a drop in attention and learning.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
March 6, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
El Chilar
Product type
Other food products
Distribution
Maryland
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date.

Products covered by this recall

Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida”

What the company announced

El Chilar Rodriguez LLC of Apopka, FL is recalling 127 cases (12 bags/case) of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” (1.25 oz bag), because it may contain traces of lead. Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that increased blood lead levels may be the only apparent sign of lead exposure. Additional signs and symptoms of lead exposure are more likely with acute exposure to higher levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead. While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount and duration of lead exposure and age/ body weight. If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., 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. For adults, chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects. Lead can cause serious health problems if too much is ingested, such as damage to the brain and kidneys and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body.

The product was distributed by La Raza LLC, 8795 D'Arcy Rd, Forestville, MD 20747, which distributes to brick-and-mortar retail stores within the state of Maryland.

The product can be identified by the lot codes D300 EX1024 and F272 EX1026, which is stamped on the front side of the packaging (see attached example).

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after the Maryland Department of Health collected product samples and analysis came back with elevated concentrations of lead. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem might be caused by potentially adulterated raw material from the supplier.

Consumers who have purchased El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” with lot code D300 EX1024 and F272 EX1026 are urged to stop using the product immediately and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have been exposed to lead should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Consumers with questions may contact EL CHILAR RODRIGUEZ LLC at 407-880-6007, on regular business hours (Mon - Fri 8:00AM – 4:30PM).

Public Advisory

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • D300 EX1024
  • F272 EX1026

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 1.25 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Lead

El Chilar — The recall is about heavy metal content exceeding what U.S. law allows in a product children handle.

  1. Take the product away from children and stop using it — do not keep it for decoration where a child can reach it.
  2. Follow the remedy on this page — lead recalls almost always carry a full refund.
  3. Wash the hands of anyone who has been handling it, and wipe down the surfaces it has been sitting on.
  4. Ask your paediatrician whether a blood lead test is warranted, especially for a child under six or anyone pregnant.

If the claim stalls

Most recall claims are paid without argument. The ones that stall usually stall for a reason you can fix.

  • Check you used the recall channel rather than ordinary customer support — the two queues rarely talk to each other.
  • If the company is unresponsive or has stopped trading, report it to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, and try the retailer in parallel.
  • Paid by card? A chargeback for goods that are unfit for sale is a legitimate fallback once the company has had a fair chance.
  • Send the photos they asked for in the format they asked for. A missing date code is the single commonest reason a claim sits unprocessed.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” with lot code D300 EX1024 and F272 EX1026 are urged to stop using the product immediately and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: El Chilar Rodriguez LLC — Consumers: El Chilar Rodriguez LLC, 407-880-6007

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was El Chilar other food products recalled?

Potential Metal Contaminant - Lead El Chilar Rodriguez LLC of Apopka, FL is recalling 127 cases (12 bags/case) of El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” (1.25 oz bag), because it may contain traces of lead.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: lot code D300 EX1024, F272 EX1026. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Take the product away from children and stop using it — do not keep it for decoration where a child can reach it.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased El Chilar Ground Cinnamon “Canela Molida” with lot code D300 EX1024 and F272 EX1026 are urged to stop using the product immediately and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Maryland.

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