Dollar Tree, supplier dealing with class action lawsuit in excess of $5M

Dollar Tree is facing more legal fallout from cinnamon product recalls over the last several months.

Donna Bell filed the lawsuit in excess of $5 million against the discount retailer and cinnamon supplier Colonna Brothers, Inc. The lawsuit represents more than 100 shoppers.

On March 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert informing grocers like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar that ground cinnamon products were contaminated with high levels of lead and should be taken off the shelves.

The products listed in the safety alert included La Fiesta brand sold by La Superior and SuperMercados; Marcum brand sold by Save A Lot; MK brands sold by SF Supermarket; Swad brand which can be found at Patel Brothers; El Chilar brand sold by La Joya Morelense; and Supreme Tradition brand found at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.  

Dollar Tree and Family Dollar said they pulled the cinnamon products from their shelves.

The safety alert stems from the October 2023 recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches that led to almost 500 child illnesses in the U.S. At the time of the recall, the FDA executed a targeted survey of cinnamon products sold at discount stores.

According to the lawsuit, the FDA collected and tested 75 samples from different retail locations and results showed lead concentration between 2.03 and 3.37 parts per million in the Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon product, which is hundreds of times more than the FDA’s safe levels.

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The lawsuit also says manufacturer Colonna should have reasonable measures in place to test the safety of its products and that Dollar Tree is responsible for ensuring its products are safe for human consumption.

Bell purchased the Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon in March of 2024 in the Bronx, N.Y., and the lawsuit says if she was aware of the existence of lead in the product, she would have not purchased it.

Bell and the group claim they have suffered injury and have lost money due to the sale of the ground cinnamon product.

Dollar Tree and Colonna are being charged with three counts: violation of New York General Business Laws 349 and 350 and unjust enrichment.

Dollar Tree and manufacturer WanaBana are also facing a lawsuit because of an applesauce pouches recall late last year. Parents of a North Carolina family claim their children suffered from lead poisoning after consuming the applesauce and face a lifetime of treatment.

A high level of chromium was found in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree.

As of May 14, Dollar Tree operates 8,277 locations in the U.S. according to ScrapeHero. 

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