The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to buy or use certain lots of six brands of ground cinnamon that have been found to contain elevated levels of lead. The FDA has also advised the distributors of these products to voluntarily recall them.

How the FDA Discovered the Problem

The FDA began testing cinnamon sold at various stores after fruit purée apple pouches by Schnucks, WanaBana, and Weis were linked to cases of lead poisoning in more than 460 children. The cinnamon in the products were determined to be the source of the heavy metalThe FDA tested 35 samples of ground cinnamon from 18 different brands and found that six of them had lead levels above the limit of 2 parts per million (ppm).

Which Brands Are Affected

The brands that have been identified by the FDA as having elevated lead levels are:

• La Fiesta: Lot code 25033; sold at La Superior and SuperMercados.
• Marcum: Best by: 10/16/25 10DB and 04/06/25 0400B1; sold at Save A Lot.
• MK: No codes; sold at SF Supermarket.
• Swad: Lot code KX21223; sold at Patel Brothers.
• Supreme Tradition: Best by: 09/29/25 09E8; 04/17/25 04E11; 12/19/25 12C2; 04/12/25 04ECB12; 08/24/25 08A_ _; 04/21/25 04E5; 2025-09-22 09E20. Sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.
• El Chilar: Lot codes F275EX1026; D300EX1024; sold at La Joya Morelense.

The FDA has posted the product images and the lead concentrations of these brands on its website. Consumers should check their homes and discard these products if they have them. These products have a long shelf life and may still be available on store shelves.

What Are the Health Risks of Lead Exposure

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems, especially in children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead can damage the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, affect learning and behavior, and cause anemia and hearing problems. Lead can also harm pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Adults can also suffer from lead poisoning, which can cause high blood pressure, kidney damage, memory loss, headaches, and reproductive problems. Lead can accumulate in the body over time and cause chronic health effects.

What Consumers Should Do

The FDA is advising consumers to stop using and dispose of these products. Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve ground cinnamon products listed in the table above and should discard them. If there’s suspicion that someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead, talk to your healthcare provider. Most people have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure.

The FDA is also encouraging consumers to report any complaints or adverse events related to these products to its MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. The FDA is continuing to investigate the source of the lead contamination and will update the public as more information becomes available.