Key takeaways:
The FDA continues to recall certain brands of ground cinnamon spice when samples are found to be contaminated with lead. It has classified the recall of some cinnamon products as Class II, meaning they “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
The cinnamon recall is a result of testing that was done to survey cinnamon spice brands. No illnesses or side effects have been reported from ingesting those cinnamon spices.
The cinnamon supply chain is under scrutiny since the FDA recalled three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches in November 2023. These applesauce pouches were linked to over 450 cases of lead poisoning in children.
The lead levels found in ground cinnamon are low, so they're less likely to cause harmful lead levels. But if you or your child recently were exposed, a simple blood test to measure your lead can help you know if there's any cause for concern.
Sometimes, a little dash of cinnamon is all you need to bring a recipe together. But the next time you reach for ground cinnamon, take a closer look at the brand label. The FDA has recalled certain ground cinnamon products because of concerns over lead contamination.
So, what exactly does this mean for you? Here’s what you need to know about lead poisoning and how lead found its way into the cinnamon food chain.
Why is the FDA recalling ground cinnamon products?
Since March 2024, the FDA has been recalling certain ground cinnamon products because of concerns over lead contamination.
Normally, there should be no lead at all in spices like cinnamon. The FDA recently conducted a review of cinnamon samples from discount retail stores. It tested many samples to see if they contained detectable lead levels. In March 2024, elevated levels were found in six distributors.
At this time, no illnesses or diseases have been linked to people using these cinnamon spices. But the FDA is recommending that no one buy these brands or keep them in their homes. This is because regular lead exposure can be harmful, especially for young children.
In May 2024, the FDA reclassified the recall of some affected cinnamon products as a Class II health hazard. According to the FDA, this means the recalled products “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
The definition also states that a Class II recall applies when “the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” The key word here is that while the risks are remote, or unlikely, the potential adverse health risks are “serious.”
How did lead get into cinnamon products?
Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the earth’s crust. It can be found in most parts of our environment — in soil, air, and water, even inside our homes. It’s also used in many industrial products, like gasoline, paint, and ceramics, as well as plumbing and batteries.
The FDA doesn’t know exactly how these ground cinnamon spices became contaminated with lead. Spices like cinnamon can sometimes contain lead because it’s present in the water and soil near cinnamon bark trees.
Lead can also enter food products through the processing and manufacturing process. This can happen if non-food-grade equipment is used. In some cases, spices have been mixed with lead to boost color or weight, which can increase the value of the spice. The FDA doesn’t currently suspect that this happened with these brands.
Lead poisoning from cinnamon
Eating something with a small amount of lead one time will probably not cause problems. But long-term exposure to lead can be harmful for your brain and development.
Children under 6 years old are most at risk because their bodies and brains are growing and developing rapidly.
Regular or very high exposure to lead can lead to:
Abdominal pain or nausea
Constipation
Weakness and fatigue
Seizures
Lower IQ and learning difficulties
Problems with behavior
Hearing and speech problems
Poor growth
The tricky part about having too much lead in the body is that it doesn't always lead to obvious symptoms. The effects can occur over time. It can be more harmful if you already have elevated lead in your body from other areas of exposure. If your lead level is too high, it can take months or years to come back down.
Worried about lead poisoning? Learn about the risks of lead poisoning in children, how to test your child, and what to do if they are affected.
Are heavy metals in baby food dangerous? Even low levels of heavy metals can harm a child’s developing brain. You can limit your baby’s exposure to lead, arsenic, and mercury by making these simple changes.
Is organic food healthier? USDA organic foods must meet strict requirements, making them more expensive to produce. This means organic foods typically contain lower levels of pesticide residues. But it’s not clear if there are additional nutritional benefits.
Recalled cinnamon products
Specific brands of ground cinnamon have been recalled. You should avoid buying these brands. You should also check to see if you have any of these brands in your home. And, if you do, you should throw them out. Cinnamon has a long shelf life, so this recall can affect cinnamon that was bought a few years ago.
The most recently recalled brands include:
Super Brand: Sold at Asian Supermarket, Little Rock, AR. No codes available.
Asli: Sold at A&Y Global Market, Columbia, MO. Lot code: DDDLUS.
El Chilar: Sold at El Torito Market, Maryland. Lot codes: D181EX0624 and E054EX0225.
Marcum: Sold at Save A Lot. Best-by date: 12-05-2025 12 D8 (Missouri), and Best-by date: 12-05-2025 12 D11 (Virginia).
Swad: Sold at Patel Brothers, Connecticut. Batch No.: KX28223, Best-by date: October 2026.
Supreme Tradition: Sold at Dollar Tree, California. Lot code: 10A11, Best-by date: 10-06-2025.
Compania Indillor Orientale: Sold at Eurogrocery, Connecticut. Lot code L1803231, Best-by date: August 2024.
ALB Flavor: Sold at Eurogrocery, Connecticut. Lot code: LA02, Best-by date: 8-30-2025.
Shahzada: Sold at Premium Supermarket, New York. No codes available.
Spice Class: Sold at Fish World, New York. Best-by date: December 2026.
La Frontera: Sold at Frutas Y Abarrotes Mexico, Inc., New York. No codes available.
The lists of cinnamon brands recalled in March 2024 and July 2024 include:
La Fiesta: Sold at La Superior and Supermercados. Lot number: 25033.
Marcum: Sold at Save A Lot. Best-by dates: 10-16-2025 and 4-6-2025.
MK brand: Sold at SF Supermarket. No codes available.
Swad: Sold at Patel Brothers. Lot number: KW21223.
Supreme Tradition: Sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Best-by dates include: 9-29-2025, 4-17-2025, 12-19-2025, 4-12-2025, 8-24-2025, 4-21-2025, and 9-22-2025.
El Chilar: Sold at La Joya Morelense. Lot numbers: F275EX1026 and D300EX1024.
El Servidor: Sold at Mannan Supermarket. No codes available.
Recent recall on cinnamon applesauce pouches
In November 2023, the FDA recalled several brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches. At that time, officials were investigating an outbreak of high levels of lead in children.
As scary as this is, there are some important differences between that recall of cinnamon applesauce and the more recent ground cinnamon recall.
The recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches involve:
A link to affected children: The CDC has received reports of over 450 cases of lead poisoning that seem to be caused by the contaminated cinnamon applesauce pouches. No cases of lead poisoning have been linked with the contaminated ground cinnamon spices, however.
Higher amount of lead: The lead levels in the applesauce pouches were thousands of times higher than the amount of lead found in the recalled ground cinnamon. Although any detectable level is considered too high, the amount in the ground cinnamon is less likely to cause health problems.
Suspected intentional contamination: The FDA has said that the lead contamination in applesauce could be intentional. The investigation seems to indicate that lead was added to the cinnamon in a processing plant in Ecuador.
Chromium exposure: The applesauce pouches were contaminated with lead chromium. Chromium is another naturally occurring element that can be toxic to humans in high amounts. At this time, there's no warning about chromium levels in the ground cinnamon.
The recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches include the three following brands:
WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches
Schnucks cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches
Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches
What to do if you’ve ingested (or could have ingested) recalled cinnamon products
If you think you or your child has recently ingested recalled cinnamon products, don’t panic. The amount of lead detected in the ground cinnamon spice is still low. And spices are usually used in small amounts.
The risk of health problems from lead contamination is much more likely with repeated lead exposure, at high levels. And, so far, no cases of lead poisoning have been linked to the ground cinnamon contamination.
If your child has recently eaten from the recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches, the most important next step is to prevent any more exposure to lead:
First, you should throw away any remaining pouches by emptying each one into the trash.
Then you should share this information about recalled products with grandparents and caretakers so they can do the same.
Next, reach out to your primary care provider or other healthcare professional and share your concerns. A simple blood test can measure your — or your child’s — lead level. That will help you and your healthcare team understand if there's any cause for concern and figure out the best next step.
The bottom line
It can be scary to hear that lead may be in a household ingredient like a spice or a child food item like applesauce pouches. But rest assured, the latest FDA recall of ground cinnamon is a way of keeping our food supply chain safe. And since spices are usually only used in small amounts, it’s unlikely that the amount of lead found in the recalled ground cinnamon will cause health problems for you or your child.
If you have recalled products in the home, you can reduce the risk for you and your child by throwing away any remaining products. And reach out to your primary care provider or healthcare team: A simple lead blood test can help you know if there’s cause for concern.
Why trust our experts?
References
Aleccia, J. (2024). Lead-tainted cinnamon has been recalled. Here’s what you should know. AP News.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Lead exposure symptoms and complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Lead and chromium poisoning outbreak linked to cinnamon applesauce pouches.
HealthyChildren.org. (2023). Lead exposure: Steps to protect your family. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Huffman, M. (2024). FDA updates recall of lead-tainted cinnamon. Consumer Affairs.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Learn about lead.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). Recalls, corrections and removals (devices).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). A conversation with FDA on steps the agency is taking to address unsafe levels of lead found in cinnamon.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). FDA alert concerning certain cinnamon products due to presence of elevated levels of lead.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Investigation of elevated lead & chromium levels: Cinnamon applesauce pouches (November 2023).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). More ground cinnamon products added to FDA public health alert due to presence of elevated levels of lead.
