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Michigan residents urged to avoid recently recalled brands of curry powder, a potential lead hazard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Oct. 28, 2018

MDHHS CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
MDARD CONTACT: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are urging residents to avoid recently recalled brands of curry powder as testing has found elevated levels of lead in the products.

The curry powder was distributed in Michigan under several brand names, including Baraka, Butera, Corrado's, Mediterranean Specialty, Nouri's and Orlando.

A public health investigation of a child with elevated blood lead levels possibly linked to household spices lead to an MDARD and Food and Drug Administration investigation of a Michigan supplier manufacturer and the recall. Elevated blood lead levels are harmful to a person’s health and can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems and hearing and speech problems, especially in growing children.

If you or your family have been using these brands of curry powder:

  • Immediately discontinue all use of these brands of curry powder. 

  • Obtain blood lead testing for all persons who may have consumed or came in contact with Exposed individuals should talk with their primary care provider about getting a blood lead test. 

  • Contact the FDA consumer contact number at 877-846-8117 with questions about the product or its recall.

  • Contact the MDHHS Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 517-335-8885 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) for questions about blood lead levels.

For more information about the recalls and images of the product packaging, visit FDA.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm624397.htm and FDA.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm624227.htm. As the FDA and MDARD continue their investigation, there may be additional curry powder recalls.

For more information about lead poisoning and lead poisoning prevention, visit Michigan.gov/lead.

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