Some ground cinnamon sold in the US has contained elevated levels of lead, and the FDA has asked consumers to throw away specific brands and lots. The worst case, the 2023 cinnamon applesauce pouches, sickened hundreds of children; later FDA alerts since 2024 have covered a growing list of ground cinnamon brands with much lower, but still concerning, lead levels.
In short: in late 2023, WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches were recalled after cinnamon from Ecuador was found to contain lead chromate; the CDC counted 519 confirmed, probable and suspected cases in 44 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Since March 2024, FDA alerts have named ground cinnamon from a series of brands, mostly sold at discount and ethnic grocery stores, with lead from about 2 to over 10 parts per million (ppm). The FDA says to check your pantry, throw away listed products and talk to a health care provider about a blood lead test if you think you or your child were exposed. The FDA’s alert pages are the up-to-date list.
This guide sums up what the FDA and CDC have published. It is not medical advice. If a child may have been exposed, call your doctor or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
The 2023 cinnamon applesauce pouch recall
In late October 2023, WanaBana recalled its apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches after North Carolina health officials traced elevated blood lead levels in four young children to the pouches. On November 9, 2023 the recall was expanded to Schnucks cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety packs and to Weis cinnamon applesauce pouches.
According to the FDA’s investigation:
- The cinnamon came from Negasmart, a supplier in Ecuador, and was used by the manufacturer, Austrofoods. Ecuadorian officials named a cinnamon processor, Carlos Aguilera, as the likely source.
- Samples of the cinnamon contained up to 5,110 ppm of lead. A recalled pouch sampled at a Dollar Tree store contained 2.18 ppm of lead. The cinnamon also contained high chromium.
- The FDA confirmed the lead and chromium came from lead chromate, and its leading hypothesis is economically motivated adulteration: the compound may have been added to make the cinnamon weigh more or look brighter.
- As of March 22, 2024, the CDC counted 136 confirmed, 345 probable and 38 suspected cases, 519 in total, across 44 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. The FDA separately received 90 adverse event reports; the two counts use different data and should not be added together.
- The FDA sent a warning letter to Austrofoods in August 2024 and one to Dollar Tree in June 2024 for failing to pull recalled pouches from shelves. Austrofoods and Negasmart were placed on FDA import alerts.
The FDA’s advice for the pouches still applies if you find one: do not eat, sell or serve it; open it and empty it into the trash before throwing away the packaging; clean up spills and wash your hands; and if a child may have eaten one, ask a health care provider about a blood lead test.
The ground cinnamon alerts, 2024 to 2026
After the pouch recall, the FDA ran a targeted survey of ground cinnamon from discount retail stores. That led to two public health alerts, which it has updated as more products were found.
March 6, 2024 alert
The FDA’s first alert named ground cinnamon sold under six brands: La Fiesta, Marcum, MK, Swad, Supreme Tradition and El Chilar, sold at stores including Save A Lot, Patel Brothers, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Lead levels ranged from 2.03 to 3.40 ppm. The FDA noted these levels are far lower than the 2,270 to 5,110 ppm in the cinnamon tied to the applesauce pouches, but said prolonged exposure to them may be unsafe.
July 30, 2024 alert, updated through September 2026
The FDA published a second alert on July 30, 2024 and has added products several times since. As of its September 28, 2026 update, the alert lists ground cinnamon from these brands, among others:
| Brands in the FDA alert (as of Sept. 28, 2026) |
|---|
| Lior Gourmet Spices (Galil), Lucky Foods, Venzu Traders, DEVI, BaiLiFeng, Roshni, HAETAE (HT) |
| Durra, Wise Wife, Jiva Organics, Super Brand, Asli, El Chilar, Marcum |
| SWAD, Supreme Tradition, Compania Indillor Orientale, ALB Flavor, Shahzada, Spice Class, La Frontera |
The FDA’s text describes lead levels of 2.03 to 7.68 ppm, while its product table shows readings up to about 10.7 ppm. Several companies issued their own recalls in 2025 and 2026, including Wise Wife (SLR Food Distribution, September 2025), Durra (Eureka, October 2025), HAETAE (Haitai, October 2025), DEVI (Homeneeds, October 2025) and Lior (Galil Importing, September 2026). Specific lots, sizes and stores are listed on the FDA pages; the brand name alone does not mean every product from that brand is affected.
The FDA said no illnesses or adverse events had been reported in connection with the ground cinnamon products in the alert. It asks consumers to throw them away and not buy them.
What the numbers mean
The figures above are lead concentrations in the spice itself, in parts per million. A teaspoon of cinnamon weighs only a few grams, so the amount eaten in one meal is small. The concern, in the FDA’s words, is that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe and could contribute to elevated blood lead levels, especially for children who eat cinnamon often.
The FDA has not published a single legal limit for lead in spices. For context, its January 2025 guidance for industry set action levels for lead in processed food for babies and young children: 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, most vegetables, mixtures, yogurts, custards and single-ingredient meats, and 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables and dry infant cereals. Those levels apply to packaged baby foods, not to spices, and are not binding, but they show how low the agency aims to keep lead in children’s food under its Closer to Zero plan.
What consumers should do
- Check your pantry. Ground cinnamon keeps for a long time, so the FDA says to look for listed products even if you bought them months ago. Compare the brand, size and lot or date codes with the FDA alert table.
- Throw listed products away. Do not use, sell or give them away. If you are not sure whether your cinnamon is affected, the FDA’s advice is the safer path: do not use it.
- Think about who ate it. If a child, or someone who is pregnant, used a listed product regularly, talk to a health care provider about a blood lead test. Most people with lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms. See our blood lead test guide.
- Report problems. The FDA asks consumers to report illnesses or complaints to the agency; its alert pages explain how.
- Keep watching the list. The FDA updates the alert as it finds more products. Its recalls page and the CDC’s list of lead-related recalls are the best places to check.
Other spices, candies and remedies
Cinnamon is the spice the FDA has acted on most in recent years, but the CDC warns more broadly that certain spices, imported candies and traditional remedies, such as azarcon and greta, may contain lead. Families who buy spices in bulk, bring them back from trips abroad or receive them from relatives are harder to protect by recalls, because those products may never appear on a US label or recall list.
The steps are the same: buy from sellers you can trace, keep an eye on FDA alerts, and if a child has been using a product you are unsure about, ask the doctor about testing. Our lead and children page lists other common sources.
Can you test spices for lead at home?
We know of no home kit that the FDA or EPA recognizes for testing food or spices. The EPA recognizes certain swab kits only for paint on specific surfaces, such as wood, ferrous metal, drywall and plaster, and the CPSC has found that home swab kits give false results on other materials. A food testing laboratory can measure lead in a spice sample; ask the lab what method it uses and whether it is accredited for metals in food. For most families, checking the FDA list and replacing a doubtful jar costs far less than a lab test.
For a clear view of what home kits can and cannot do, see home lead test vs lab testing. Other everyday items are covered on our lead in household items hub, including pottery and dishes, toys and jewelry and Stanley cups. For health questions, see lead poisoning.
Frequently asked questions
Which cinnamon brands have lead?
The FDA’s current alert lists ground cinnamon from brands including Lior, Lucky Foods, Venzu Traders, DEVI, BaiLiFeng, Roshni, HAETAE, Durra, Wise Wife, Jiva Organics, Super Brand, Asli, El Chilar, Marcum, SWAD, Supreme Tradition, Compania Indillor Orientale, ALB Flavor, Shahzada, Spice Class and La Frontera, for specific products and lots. Check the FDA alert for the exact items.
Is cinnamon from major brands safe?
The FDA has not said that all cinnamon is unsafe; its alerts name specific products. Its survey focused on discount retail stores. There is no way to know the lead level of a given jar without testing, so the practical step is to check the FDA list.
What should I do if my child ate recalled cinnamon applesauce?
The FDA says to ask a health care provider about a blood lead test, because most children have no obvious symptoms. If a child has severe symptoms, call 911; for other questions, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Why was there lead in cinnamon?
In the applesauce case, the FDA found lead chromate and believes it was added on purpose to increase weight or color. For the ground cinnamon alerts, the FDA has not named a single cause; one recalling firm pointed to possibly adulterated raw material or lead naturally present in cinnamon.
Does cooking remove lead from cinnamon?
No. Lead is a metal, and heat does not destroy it. The FDA’s advice is simply to throw listed products away.