FDA issues third health alert for cinnamon with elevated lead levels

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a third public health alert in the last 12 months for ground cinnamon that may contain elevated levels of lead.

"In this third alert, the FDA is recommending recalls of nine brands of ground cinnamon products with elevated lead levels ranging from 2.03 to 7.01 parts per million," FDA officials said. "These levels are significantly lower than the levels of lead associated with the WanaBana cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products recalled in the fall of 2023, which had between 2,270 ppm to 5,110 ppm lead in the cinnamon."

Brands found to have elevated levels of lead and their parts per million:

• El Chilar (two batches with ppm of 3.75 and 7.01)
• Marcum (two batches with ppm of 2.22 and 2.14)
• SWAD (2.89 ppm)
• Supreme Tradition (2.37 ppm)
• Compania Indillor Orientale (2.23 ppm)
• ALB Flavor (3.93 ppm)
• Shahzada (2.03 ppm)
• Spice Class (2.04 ppm)
• La Frontera (2.66 ppm)

FDA officials say that over the last year, prior to the recall of WanaBana apple puree and applesauce products containing elevated levels of lead and chromium, the FDA asked states to prioritize testing of ground cinnamon and other spices due to cinnamon's heavy use in foods for infants and children.

"Following the FDA’s targeted assessment of ground cinnamon products for lead and chromium and the FDA public health alert issued earlier this year, several states provided the FDA with data for samples of ground cinnamon collected through the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model," the FDA said.

"This is a cooperative agreement with states to help investigate, monitor and remove adulterated foods from commerce and aid regulatory programs. California, Maryland, Missouri, Connecticut, and Virginia collected ground cinnamon samples through the LFFM, in addition to samples collected outside the LFFM from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, all included in this public health alert."

The FDA is still reviewing sample results received from other state partners who have been continuously sampling ground cinnamon in stores for elevated levels of lead and will update the health alert as necessary if the FDA finds that additional products contain elevated levels of lead and that exposure to these products may be unsafe.