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In the spring of 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a nationwide alert regarding several brands of ground cinnamon that contained elevated levels of lead. Since then, the federal agency has issued two updates, adding more contaminated products to the alert. Now, the FDA has revised the list once again to include its latest findings. As of Sept. 12, 2025, 12 brands of cinnamon have been flagged for lead contamination. The list includes brands sold at chains such as Dollar Tree, Save A Lot, and Patel Brothers.
The FDA began testing for elevated lead levels in ground cinnamon following more than 460 cases of reported lead poisoning in children after they had eaten apple sauce. They quickly discovered it was the cinnamon in the apple purée that caused the lead and chromium poisoning.
How To Identify Cinnamon Brands That Contain Lead
Here is the latest list of products with elevated lead levels that are deemed unsafe for consumption. The FDA has recommended that the firms voluntarily recall these products, and a number have already done so.
| Cinnamon Products With Elevated Levels of Lead | ||
|---|---|---|
| Retailer | Brand Name | Best-By Date and Lot Code |
| Taj Supermarket | Jiva Organics | AF-CINP/822 Best Before: July 2025 |
| Asian Supermarket | Super Brand | None listed |
| A&Y Global Market | Asli | DDDLUS (Missouri) |
| El Torito Market | El Chilar | D181EX0624; E054EX0225 (Maryland) |
| Save A Lot Food Stores, Ltd. | Marcum | 12/05/25, 12 D8 (Missouri); 12/05/25, 12 D11 (Virginia) |
| Patel Brothers | SWAD | 10/2026, KX28223 (Connecticut) |
| Dollar Tree | Supreme Tradition | 10/06/25, 10A11 (California) |
| Eurogrocery | Compania Indillor Orientale | 08/2024, L1803231 (Connecticut) |
| Eurogrocery | ALB Flavor | 08/30/2025, LA02 (Connecticut) |
| Premium Supermarket | Shahzada | None listed (New York) |
| Fish World | Spice Class | 12/2026 (New York) |
| Frutas Y Abarrotes Mexico, Inc. | La Frontera | None listed (New York) |
What To Do if You Have Contaminated Cinnamon
According to the alert, foods with elevated levels of lead may pose health risks over time. If you have any of the products listed above, it’s safest not to consume them and to dispose of them properly.
The FDA will continue to review samples of ground cinnamon with state partners to check for high levels of lead. The agency will issue updates as needed if additional products are found to have elevated lead levels that could pose a health risk.
How To Find a Safe Cinnamon Brand
Experts say that whole cinnamon may be a safer option. Lead can’t be added to cinnamon sticks, and they are also less likely to be exposed to grinding equipment that could contain lead.
Furthermore, Consumer Reports conducted its own tests to determine which brands had the most and least lead contamination. Not surprisingly, the cinnamon products that came out as safest were all from well-known, reputable brands. The recommendations are distributed by 365 Whole Foods Market (regular and organic), Sadaf, Morton & Bassett San Francisco’s Organic Cinnamon, and Loisa Organic Cinnamon.
