Ground cinnamon sold in the United States is the subject of a new federal health alert, after testing found elevated levels of lead in 11 brands. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the ground cinnamon products contain lead at levels from 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million, and exposure to these products may be unsafe.
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away the listed products and not to buy them. The agency found the lead through product testing by state programs, and the FDA confirmed the results. The FDA has recommended that the firms voluntarily recall the products, and it said it will update the notice as firms agree to recalls.
The alert is the third public health alert this year for ground cinnamon. The FDA said it issued the alert to ensure the safety of cinnamon used in foods that are frequently consumed by babies and young children.
Ground cinnamon brands named in the alert
Products named in the alert include the Wise Wife brand cinnamon, recalled by SLR Food Distribution Inc. of Hicksville, New York. A sample collected by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station tested positive for elevated lead levels, and the FDA confirmed the result. No illnesses had been reported in connection with the product when the recall was announced.
The recalled Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon was sold in a 110-gram clear plastic container with a black screw-top cap. The best-before date is April 25, 2027, and the UPC is 0688474302754. The product was distributed to retail and grocery stores between Sept. 8, 2025, and June 28, 2026, in 14 states: Wisconsin, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
Another product in the alert is Super Cinnamon Powder, sold in 4-ounce packs under the Super Brand name. IHA Beverage of Commerce, California, issued a voluntary recall of the powder after testing found lead at 7.68 and 6.60 parts per million. The product was sold at an Asian supermarket in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Ground cinnamon testing continues at retail
Testing at retail stores is continuing, the FDA said. The agency is analyzing cinnamon and reviewing sample results received from state partners who have been continuously sampling cinnamon at retail for elevated levels of lead. The public health alert will be updated as necessary if the FDA finds more products that contain elevated levels of lead.
The FDA issued earlier alerts on ground cinnamon on March 6, 2024, and July 25, 2024, with lists of additional products recommended for recall. The latest alert adds 11 brands to the list, and the agency said the firms have been asked to recall the products voluntarily.
State programs carry out much of the testing, and the FDA confirms the results before products are added to the alert. The lead levels in the latest alert range from 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million across the 11 brands, and the table on the FDA notice lists each product with its lead level and the retailer location information from the firm’s recall press release.
Ground cinnamon advice for shoppers
Ground cinnamon in the alert should be thrown away rather than used, the FDA said. The agency advises anyone who bought one of the listed products to discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Shoppers can check the brand name, container size, best-before date and UPC number on the FDA notice to see whether a product in their kitchen is affected.
The FDA notes that short-term exposure to very low levels of lead may not cause noticeable symptoms. The recall applies to the products named in the alert, not to every brand of ground cinnamon sold in the United States. The best-before date of April 25, 2027, on the Wise Wife product does not override the recall, and containers bought months ago may still be in household spice cabinets.
The FDA said it will update the public health alert as more information becomes available, and it will add communications from firms that voluntarily agree to recall their products as it receives them.