General Healthcare, Health

The Cinnamon You Sprinkled on Breakfast? Why the FDA Says Some Jars Have a Lead Problem

For more than a year, U.S. regulators and state labs have been quietly testing jars of ground cinnamon pulled from store shelves. What they found was unsettling: multiple brands with elevated lead levels—enough that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged recalls and told shoppers to throw the products away. Here’s what to know—clearly, calmly, and in one place.

What Brands Are Affected
Since March 2024, the FDA has issued a series of public-health alerts naming ground-cinnamon products with elevated lead and recommending recalls. As of October 2025, the alert covers these brands and distributors or retailers, with measured lead levels noted in parts per million (ppm):

  • Roshni (Singh Trading / Roshni Foods) – 2.3 ppm
  • HAETAE (HT) (Haitai Inc., USA) – 4.6 ppm
  • Durra (Eureka Inc.) – 2.4 ppm
  • Wise Wife (SLR Food Distribution) – 2.5 ppm
  • Jiva Organics (Spicy World of USA) – 2.3 ppm
  • Super Brand (IHA Beverage) – up to 7.7 ppm – the highest in the current alert
  • Asli (Sands Impex / Asli Fine Foods) – 2.3 ppm
  • El Chilar – 3.7 to 7.0 ppm
  • Supreme Tradition (Greenbrier International) – 2.3 to 3.4 ppm
  • ALB Flavor, Shahzada, Spice Class, La Frontera, Compania Indillor Orientale (CIO) – 2.0 to 4.0 ppm

Earlier 2024 alerts also included La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, and Swad brands.

Where the Cinnamon Came From and Was Sold
Most recalled products were imported from South Asia, the Middle East, or South America and sold at major discount and ethnic grocery chains:

  • Supreme Tradition – sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar
  • Marcum – sold at Save A Lot
  • Swad – sold at Patel Brothers
  • MK – sold at SF Supermarket
  • Durra – distributed to stores in California and Michigan
  • HAETAE (HT) – sold nationwide in Asian markets

How Much Lead Was Found
Laboratory testing revealed 2 to nearly 8 ppm of lead—far below the thousands of ppm that triggered the 2023 applesauce pouch crisis, but still high enough that long-term use could raise blood-lead levels, especially in children.

What Is Considered a Safe Level of Lead?
The FDA doesn’t set one universal limit for lead across all foods, but rather uses reference levels based on age and product type:

Population / Product Type FDA’s Safe Level Equivalent Comparison to Recalled Cinnamon
Infants (baby foods) ≤ 0.01 ppm 10 ppb Up to 700× higher
Children (candy) ≤ 0.1 ppm 100 ppb Up to 77× higher
Adults (daily exposure limit) ≤ 8.8 µg/day depends on intake Frequent use could exceed limit

Even though the FDA has not defined an official limit for spices, these benchmarks show how even a few parts per million in a product used daily—like cinnamon—can cause children or pregnant women to exceed safe intake levels quickly. The agency’s goal is zero detectable lead in foods commonly consumed by infants and toddlers.

When the FDA Found Out—and How It Passed Inspection
The 2023 applesauce crisis first drew attention to cinnamon. Investigators traced contamination to adulteration or handling during processing in Ecuador, not the original whole cinnamon sticks, which tested clean.

The FDA began targeted sampling of ground cinnamon at retail in 2024 and issued its first alert that March. Additional recalls followed throughout 2024 and 2025.

Why some products reached shelves: under U.S. law, the FDA does not pre-approve every spice jar. Manufacturers and importers are responsible for preventive safety testing under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), while FDA performs risk-based surveillance and can block shipments if violations are found.

What Consumers Should Do

  1. Check your pantry. Compare brand, lot or best-by date, and UPC against the FDA’s current list.
  2. If it’s listed, discard it. Do not taste or reuse it.
  3. If you used it regularly, especially for young children or pregnancy, consult your doctor about a blood-lead test.
  4. Request a refund—most retailers honor recalls.
  5. Consider whole cinnamon sticks or reputable brands not affected by the alert.
  6. Report issues through the FDA’s online safety portal if symptoms or problems occur.

Health Effects of Lead Exposure
There is no safe level of lead.

  • Children: lower IQ, learning and behavior issues, and delayed development.
  • Adults: anemia, high blood pressure, kidney and reproductive problems.
  • Pregnancy: lead can cross the placenta and harm the fetus.

If You’ve Already Used the Product
A few sprinkles are unlikely to cause harm, but chronic use over months can add up.
If you feel fatigued, irritable, constipated, or notice abdominal discomfort, consult a clinician. Most exposure cases are symptom-free but detectable by a simple blood test.

Do Cinnamon Sticks Have the Same Problem?
Unlikely. Whole cinnamon sticks, particularly from Sri Lanka, have consistently tested negative. Contamination usually occurs after grinding, during processing or intentional adulteration.

What the FDA Is Doing Next
The agency is:

  • Intensifying import screening and placing violators on Import Alert.
  • Requiring manufacturers to strengthen preventive-controls programs under FSMA.
  • Proposing broader authority to require testing and recordkeeping for high-risk imported spices, especially those used in baby and toddler foods.

The Take-Home Message

  • If your jar appears on the recall list—discard it immediately.
  • If you’ve used it often—ask your doctor about a blood test.
  • Choose whole sticks or reputable brands until the FDA finishes testing.
  • Monitor the FDA’s updates; new products have been added as recently as October 2025.

-Vũ Thanh Thuỷ-

Sources & Further Reading