Is your ground cinnamon powder on the naughty list this year? It is time to check your cupboards for potentially harmful lots of ground cinnamon before your fall baking gets started. Why? The last thing your holiday pies need is an unhealthy dose of lead.
Ground Cinnamon Recall
At the end of July, there was a lot of news taking your headspace. If your world felt like it was spinning out of control, you may have missed the FDA warnings about the unhealthy levels of lead found in certain cinnamon brands. In fact, the July alerts added 11 products to an existing list of six brands announced in March. According to NBC News, FDA testing came on the heels of hundreds of lead poisoning cases in children who ate applesauce pouches by Weis, Schnucks, and WanaBana. What started with 64 cases quickly ballooned to more than 450 cases. After an investigation, it was determined that the cinnamon used in each product was the actual lead-poisoning source.
Contaminated Cinnamon Lots
Obviously, not all ground cinnamon needs to be thrown away. However, you should review products that are sitting on your spice shelf to ensure they are safe. According to the FDA Alerts on March 6th, July 25th, and July 30th, these products should not be eaten, sold, or served:
ALB Flavor
Lot: Best Before:30/08/2025 – LA02 (Connecticut)
Retailers: Eurogrocery
Distributor: ALB-USA Enterprises Inc., Bronx, NY
Asli
Lot: DDDLUS (Missouri)
Retailers: A&Y Global Market Columbia, MO
Distributor: Sands Impex Inc., Dba Asli Fine Foods Woodbridge, IL
Compania Indillor Orientale
Lot: Exp and Lot: 08 2024 L1803231 (Connecticut)
Retailers: Eurogrocery
Distributor: MAMTAKIM, Inc., Elizabeth, NJ (importer)
El Chilar
Lot: F275EX1026 (Maryland), D300EX1024 (Maryland)
Retailers: La Joya Morelense (Baltimore, MD)
Distributor: El Chilar, Apopka, FL
El Chilar
Lot: D181EX0624 (Maryland), E054EX0225 (Maryland)
Retailers: El Torito Market
Distributor: El Chilar, Apopka, FL
El Servidor
Lot: None
Retailers: Mannan Supermarket, Inc.
Distributor: El Servidor Corp of Elmhurst, NY
La Fiesta
Lot: 25033
Retailers: La Superior SuperMercados
Distributor: La Fiesta Food Products, La Miranda, CA
La Frontera
Lot: None (New York)
Retailers: Frutas Y Abarrotes Mexico, Inc.
Distributor: La Frontera Imports
Marcum
Lot: Best By 10/16/25 10DB, 04/06/25 0400B1 (Missouri)
Retailers: Save A Lot
Distributor: Moran Foods, LLC, Saint Ann, MO
Marcum
Lot: Best by 12/05/25 12 D8 (Missouri), 12/05/25 12 D11 (Virginia)
Retailers: Save-A-Lot Food Stores, Ltd.
Distributor: Moran Foods, LLC, Saint Ann, MO
MK
Lot: No codes
Retailers: SF Supermarket
Distributor: MTCI, Santa Fe Springs, CA
Shahzada
Lot: None (New York)
Retailers: Premium Supermarket
Distributor: Advance Food International, Inc
Spice Class
Lot: Best by 12/2026 (New York)
Retailers: Fish World
Distributor: American Spices LLC, NY
Supreme Tradition
Lot: 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, 04/21/25 04E5, 2025-09-22 09E20 (Missouri)
Retailers: Dollar Tree, Family Dollar
Distributor: Greenbriar International, Inc., Chesapeake, VA
Supreme Tradition
Lot: 10A11, BEST BY: 10/06/25 (California)
Retailers: Dollar Tree
Distributor: Greenbriar International, Inc., Chesapeake, VA
Swad
Lot: Best before July 2026 KX21223
Retailers: Patel Brothers
Distributor: Raja Foods LLC, Skokie, IL
Swad
Lot: KX28223, Best Before October 2026 (Connecticut)
Retailers: Patel Brothers
Distributor: Raja Foods LLC, Skokie, IL
Why Should You Be Concerned?
The FDA issued the warning due to dangerous levels of lead in the products that could contribute to lead poisoning or long-term damage. According to the alert: “Long-term exposure (months to years) to elevated levels of lead in the diet could contribute to adverse health effects, particularly for the portion of the population that may already have elevated blood lead levels from other exposures to lead.”