BVI Warns of Recalled Cinnamon Seasoning
Health officials in the British Virgin Islands are advising residents and local food businesses to inspect inventories for Lior Gourmet Spices Cinnamon Ground Seasoning following a U.S. recall due to elevated lead levels. While no cases have been confirmed locally, authorities urge the public not to consume, sell, or use the affected product as a precautionary measure.
The Environmental Health Division within the Ministry of Health and Social Development has issued a public advisory urging consumers and local food businesses across the British Virgin Islands to check their shelves and inventory for an active recall involving ground cinnamon seasoning contaminated with elevated levels of lead.
The recall centers on Lior Gourmet Spices Cinnamon Ground Seasoning, distributed by Galil Importing Corp. of Hauppauge, New York. Food and Drug Administration initiated the regulatory action after routine testing detected concerning concentrations of lead within the spice. The affected product is packaged in a clear 90-gram (3.2-ounce) plastic container.
Consumers and business owners should look for UPC 794711005484 and Lot Code GAP11304 to identify the recalled item. In the United States, the seasoning moved through major distribution channels in Florida, New York, and New Jersey—regions that represent key commercial supply lines for food imports entering the Virgin Islands.
Health authorities warn that lead exposure poses severe health risks, particularly when ingested repeatedly over time. Exposure to lead can cause irreversible damage to neurological development and long-term physical health, with infants, young children, and pregnant women facing the highest vulnerability to toxic effects.
Although the Environmental Health Division has not confirmed the presence of the affected cinnamon in local establishments, the alert is being treated with urgency due to the Territory's strong reliance on imported goods. Wholesalers, grocery stores, restaurants, catering operations, and private households are strongly encouraged to review their supply records, pantries, and storage rooms.
Anyone in possession of the recalled seasoning is instructed not to eat, sell, serve, or cook with it. Food handlers and residents should immediately remove the product from circulation and either dispose of it safely or return it to the point of purchase. The Ministry affirmed its ongoing commitment to safeguarding public health and maintaining food safety across the Territory.
Residents and commercial food operators who locate the recalled product or have questions can contact the Environmental Health Division by calling (284) 468-5110 or emailing ehd@gov.vg.
Primary source: BVI Government