FDA warning: 16 brands of cinnamon contain dangerous levels of lead has raised national concern, as the agency urges consumers across the United States to discard these products. Long-term exposure poses the biggest threat, especially for households that use cinnamon regularly in daily cooking. Newly added brands include HAETAE, Roshni, Durra, and Wise Wife, all of which look like ordinary spice jars on store shelves but carry hidden risks when used frequently.
What the FDA Discovered
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health alert advising consumers to dispose of any affected ground cinnamon. According to the agency, consuming these products may increase blood lead levels. Testing performed by FDA and state partners found lead ranging from 2.03 to 7.68 ppm across 16 brands sold in mainstream retailers and ethnic markets.
As part of its responsibility to ensure food safety, FDA conducts sampling, risk assessments, and public notifications whenever products are deemed unsafe.
Why Cinnamon Can Contain Lead
Cinnamon comes from tree bark that naturally absorbs metals from soil and water. Lead can also enter the spice during grinding, storage, or packaging when standards are not followed. A decade-long review in New York City found that more than 30% of spices exceeded 2 ppm lead, with cinnamon frequently appearing among the problematic items.
CDC states that there is no identified safe blood lead level for children. Small bodies absorb more lead for the same dose, but adults can also suffer long-term effects, including impacts on blood pressure, kidneys, and pregnancy.
In comparison, the 2023 applesauce incident involved cinnamon containing 2,270 to 5,110 ppm of lead—far higher than current findings, but repeated exposure to smaller amounts still poses a risk.
What Consumers Should Do
Check your pantry for the brands listed on the FDA website. If you find a match, discard the product and stop using it. If someone in your household consumed the affected cinnamon often, consider asking a healthcare provider whether blood testing is appropriate.
Purchase spices from retailers that can trace product batches and provide timely recall updates. Keep product labels and receipts to simplify future recall checks.
Cinnamon and Lead Exposure Moving Forward
This warning aligns with FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative, aimed at reducing toxic element exposure in babies and young children. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act, companies must follow Preventive Controls for Human Food, including supplier verification and targeted testing.
FDA may also impose import alerts to prevent unsafe products from entering the country. While the current cinnamon findings are less extreme than the applesauce case, they remain serious because cumulative exposure adds up over time.
There is no universally safe daily amount of cinnamon, as risk varies by dosage, frequency, lead concentration, age, and other sources of lead exposure. Consumers are encouraged to rotate spice brands, use alternative flavorings, and maintain adequate calcium and iron intake to minimize lead absorption.